T039 - Gan 雁

Naga Maru Gata tsuba (oval shape). Design of Gan (雁) a flock of wild geese in Sukashi, Sukidashi type fenced border, with a Kozuka and Kogai Ana.

• Material: Iron, smoky black finish.
• Dimensions: 78 x 73 x 4 mm
• Weight: 76 g

This Tsuba represents a flight of Wild Geese (Gan or Kari - 雁). There are many stories where a Samurai, paying attention to a sudden flight of geese, foils an ambush.
One of the most famous is that of the archer Minamoto no Yoshiie (1039-106), known as Hachimantarō, and was known at his time as 'the samurai of greatest bravery under the sky.'
During the Gosannen War (後三年合戦), Yoshiie was going into battle when he noticed a herd of geese coming out of a field.
Suspecting that the enemy was hiding in the grass, he sent his men to wake them up where they found more than thirty lying on the prowl. His cunning understanding of military strategy earned him the respect and gratitude of his men.
In memory of these stories, the symbol of geese is often found on sword mounts or on everyday items of the samurai.