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"Tanegashima" Rifle - detail of mechanism metalwork

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"Tanegashima" Rifle - detail of mechanism metalwork

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Title	"Tanegashima" Rifle - detail of mechanism metalwork
Description	Flint and safety pin lacking, but otherwise in excellent condition. So, too, is the lacquered, fitted case, with its identifying mon, or crest of the daimyo clan for whom it was made. The firearm refers to one of the most interesting periods of Japanese history, and can be dated to a fairly precise time period, because such weapons did not exist in Japan before they were introduced by the Portuguese in 1543. The Portuguese had been blown off course in a storm and made landfall at Tanegashima, a small island off the coast of Kyushu (hence the name "Tanegashima" Rifle). This weapon is much more rare than a samurai sword because the time when it was in use was of such short duration. Use of such guns was banned early in the Edo period. This rifle is heavy! Metal fittings with lion on butt end. On lower surface of the rifle, metal fittings, as in sword furniture, with cloud pattern near the end (cf. smoke from firing). Halfway down is a flaming jewel. Back near the trigger, a 3-clawed dragon form in the clouds. Behind the dragon is a character on a round metal insert; then the trigger; on the bottom of the butt, another character. On the sides of the shoulder piece is further decoration (left side, cherry blossoms; right side, kara-shishi [Chinese lion-dog), and on upper surface is peony, often associated with the lion-dog in Japanese decorative arts. Above the trigger is a samurai helmet; on the metal assembly is another character, prob. the maker's symbol. Lacquered case is shaped to fit the rifle, and bears the mon of a five-petaled flower with circular petals, possibly a plum, within a circle.
Country	Japan
Historical Period	Japan - Edo-Tokugawa 1615 - 1868
Date of Content	circa 17th century
Photographer/Recorder	Anderson, Christie
IDEAS Topic	Daily Life-Material Culture Government-Military
Related Record	soclaa000727
Work of Art, Present Location	Emison Art Museum
Type	Still image
Format	Image/jpg
Date Photographed/Recorded	10/15/2007
Permissions	Materials may be used for educational, non-commercial purposes only. Acknowledgement to be given to the ASIANetwork-Luce Asian Art in the Undergraduate Curriculum Project and to the college from whose collection the work comes. The individual college retains copyright to the work.
IDEAS Collection	ASIANetwork-Luce Asian Art in the Undergraduate Curriculum Project
Institution Name	DePauw University
IDEAS Identifier	soclaa000732
Collection Editor	Kucera, Karil
Image preparator	Sonnichsen, Amy

"Tanegashima" Rifle - detail of mechanism metalwork

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