Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) 17th century

This sword guard, or *tsuba*, was crafted by the Ko-kinko school, featuring swirling wave motifs across its surface. In Japanese art, water often symbolizes strength, resilience, and the transient nature of life, reflecting the constant flux and change inherent in our existence. Consider how similar wave patterns appear in Hokusai's "Great Wave," where the ocean's raw power is on full display, embodying both beauty and potential destruction. This imagery echoes across cultures, from ancient Greek depictions of Oceanus to Mesopotamian water deities, revealing a shared human fascination with the sea. The recurrence of these motifs underscores a deeper, subconscious connection to the elemental forces of nature. The wave, as a symbol, evolves—sometimes a gentle ripple, other times a raging torrent, yet always carrying the weight of cultural memory. It is a reminder that symbols are not static, but living entities that shift, adapt, and resurface, carrying echoes of the past into the present.