19c Japanese sword KASHIRA BUDDHA, CONFUCIUS, LAO-TZE

Description

19th century Edo period iron Japanese kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with relief depiction of the Vinegar Tasters - the three founders of China's major religious and philosophical traditions. Confucius, the Buddha and Lao Tse were dipping their fingers in a vat of
vinegar
and tasting it. Each man's expression represents the predominant attitude of his religion: Confucianism saw life as sour, in need of
rules
to correct the degeneration of people; Buddhism saw life as bitter, dominated by pain and suffering; and Taoism saw life as fundamentally good in its natural state. Another interpretation of the subject is that, since the three men are gathered around one vat of vinegar, the "
three teachings
" are one. Wonderful crisp metalwork, beautiful copper, gold and silver inlays, in great condition. Length 1 1/4 inches.