Tsuba Maru Gata (round shape) in the design of Kinai Ryū 記 内 龍 (Dragon of the Kinai School), rounded right border Maru Mimi, with a Kozuka and Kogai Ana.

• Material: Iron, smoked black finish
• Dimensions: 74 mm x 74 mm x 4.5 mm
• Weight: 97 g

This Tsuba is designed as a coiled Dragon (Ryū 龍), carrying in its claw the flaming jewel in its 3-clawed paw (unlike Chinese dragons which generally have 5 claws).
The sacred Buddhist jewel is in the shape of a crystal ball with a claw, and symbolizes for the dragon its role as guardian and protector of the dharma (Buddhist law).

The Kinai school (記内) of Echizen province 越前 developed from the 17th to the 19th century. It was known for producing only solid Tsubas with opening decorations called Kinai Bori 記内彫, showing extraordinary clarity in both design and execution.
This school was founded by Ishikawa Kinai 石川 記内, a craftsman from Kyoto who settled in Echizen Province during the 17th century. This province was then very attractive to many craftsmen because a branch of the Tokugawa family ran it, bringing around it many nobles and rich people able to buy works of great value. This school was also very linked to the Yasutsugu branch of blacksmiths, official craftsmen of the Tokugawa family.