Sword guard with design of hollyhock leaves

Sword Guards

Sword guards (tsuba) attached to the sword hilt and the top of the blade prevent the hand from slipping onto the blade during thrusts. During the prolonged peace of the Edo period (1615–1868), the emphasis in tsuba making shifted from protection to elaborate decoration. Over time, metalworkers developed special carving and inlay techniques for a wide array of designs, from simple family crests to detailed pictures of legendary warriors. Tsuba were often made as part of sets of matching sword fittings, which could be mounted with blades of various types and dates.