Samurai Spirit: Swords, Accessories, and Paintings - On View Now | San Antonio Museum of Art
Source: https://www.samuseum.org/artwork/exhibition/samurai-spirit-swords-accessories-and-paintings
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:17
Samurai Spirit: Swords, Accessories, and Paintings - On View Now | San Antonio Museum of Art
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Please note: the Museum will be closed on Friday, April 24th and will close early at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th.
Open Today: 10AM — 5PM
En Español
On View Now
Samurai Spirit: Swords, Accessories, and Paintings
January 06, 2024–January 03, 2027
Asian Special Exhibitions Gallery, 2nd Floor West
Purchase Tickets
Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukehide, Japanese, active ca. 1360,
Wakizashi
(Short Sword), Jūyo Token, Signed: Sukehide, 7th month, 18th year [of the Shōhei era], July 1363, Handmade and polished steel, 13 3/4 in. (35 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, acquired in memory of Robert R. Clemons with funds realized from his estate, 2022.11.1
Learn about the Japanese samurai and their appreciation of finely honed skills in forging and polishing steel to make weapons of lethal beauty.
First recounted by oral narratives, the stories of battles, heroic pursuits, and famous samurai warriors became popular subjects of literature, theater, and pictorial arts that have endured through the ages. And their swords, polished and decorated, were revered as treasured emblems of their honorable heritage.
This exhibit features two important fourteenth century swords, a
wakizashi
, a short sword signed by the maker, Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukehide, dated to July, 1363, and a
katana
, a longer sword typically wielded with two hands, that were purchased with funds realized from the sale of the late Robert Clemons’s bequest to SAMA. Japanese swords are admired for the strength of the steel, which comes from heating and folding the metal many times, and by shaping the steel to a fine, sharp blade.
Other samurai weapons and objects round out this introduction to a major aspect of traditional Japanese culture.
Please note that this focus exhibition is included with your general admission ticket purchase, is free for members, and is included in our Bexar County Free Hours (Tuesdays 4:00
–
7:00 p.m. and Sundays, 10:00 a.m.
–
noon).
Exhibition Gallery
Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukehide, Japanese, active ca. 1360,
Wakizashi
(Short Sword), Jūyo Token, Signed: Sukehide, 7th month, 18th year [of the Shōhei era], July 1363, Handmade and polished steel, 13 3/4 in. (35 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, acquired in memory of Robert R. Clemons with funds realized from his estate, 2022.11.1
Katana (Long Sword), Jūyo Token, Yamato Tradition, Taima school, 1250-1375, Japan, Hand forged and polished steel blade; lacquer scabbard; stingray skin-wrapped handle, Acquired in memory of Robert R. Clemons with funds realized from his estate, 2022.11.2
Shibata Gitō, Japanese, 1780-1819, Illustration to the Heike Monogatari, ca. 1800, Ink and colors on silk, Image: 33 × 10 3/4 in. (83.8 × 27.3 cm); Overall with knobs: 73 × 17 1/2 in. (185.4 × 44.5 cm), On loan from the Catherine and Thomas Edson Collection, L.2011.10.60
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Ways to Support SAMA
See Membership Info
Open today
from 10AM–5PM
200 West Jones Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215
Tel:
210.978.8100
Get Directions
Contact Us
About The Museum
Press
Event Rentals
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Volunteer / Internship
Terms & Conditions
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© 2026 San Antonio Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
Visit
Purchase Tickets
Visitor Information
Visita
Groups + Tours
Restaurant
Open today : 10AM — 5PM
200 West Jones Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215
210.978.8100
Join Today
Artwork
Current Exhibitions
Upcoming Exhibitions
Past Exhibitions
Browse the Collection
Collection Areas
Now on View
Canvas to Clay: Georgia O’Keeffe & Maria Martinez to Mata Ortiz & Tonalá
On View February 28
New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations
Learn
Educators
Families
Adults
Events
Full Calendar
Families
Adults
Educators
Members
April 28
Lecture: From Ancient Capital to Terrorist Target—Recovering and Stabilizing the Past in Iraq with the Nimrud Rescue Project with Brian Michael Lione
May 1
Bricks & Beer: A Preservation Month Tour
Blog
Join & Give
Become a Member
Give a Membership
Donate to SAMA
Corporate Support
Our Corporate Supporters
Donate
Shop
Accessories
Home & Gifts
Books
Arts & Exhibitions
Membership
Join and give today!
Please note: the Museum will be closed on Friday, April 24th and will close early at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25th.
Open Today: 10AM — 5PM
En Español
On View Now
Samurai Spirit: Swords, Accessories, and Paintings
January 06, 2024–January 03, 2027
Asian Special Exhibitions Gallery, 2nd Floor West
Purchase Tickets
Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukehide, Japanese, active ca. 1360,
Wakizashi
(Short Sword), Jūyo Token, Signed: Sukehide, 7th month, 18th year [of the Shōhei era], July 1363, Handmade and polished steel, 13 3/4 in. (35 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, acquired in memory of Robert R. Clemons with funds realized from his estate, 2022.11.1
Learn about the Japanese samurai and their appreciation of finely honed skills in forging and polishing steel to make weapons of lethal beauty.
First recounted by oral narratives, the stories of battles, heroic pursuits, and famous samurai warriors became popular subjects of literature, theater, and pictorial arts that have endured through the ages. And their swords, polished and decorated, were revered as treasured emblems of their honorable heritage.
This exhibit features two important fourteenth century swords, a
wakizashi
, a short sword signed by the maker, Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukehide, dated to July, 1363, and a
katana
, a longer sword typically wielded with two hands, that were purchased with funds realized from the sale of the late Robert Clemons’s bequest to SAMA. Japanese swords are admired for the strength of the steel, which comes from heating and folding the metal many times, and by shaping the steel to a fine, sharp blade.
Other samurai weapons and objects round out this introduction to a major aspect of traditional Japanese culture.
Please note that this focus exhibition is included with your general admission ticket purchase, is free for members, and is included in our Bexar County Free Hours (Tuesdays 4:00
–
7:00 p.m. and Sundays, 10:00 a.m.
–
noon).
Exhibition Gallery
Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukehide, Japanese, active ca. 1360,
Wakizashi
(Short Sword), Jūyo Token, Signed: Sukehide, 7th month, 18th year [of the Shōhei era], July 1363, Handmade and polished steel, 13 3/4 in. (35 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, acquired in memory of Robert R. Clemons with funds realized from his estate, 2022.11.1
Katana (Long Sword), Jūyo Token, Yamato Tradition, Taima school, 1250-1375, Japan, Hand forged and polished steel blade; lacquer scabbard; stingray skin-wrapped handle, Acquired in memory of Robert R. Clemons with funds realized from his estate, 2022.11.2
Shibata Gitō, Japanese, 1780-1819, Illustration to the Heike Monogatari, ca. 1800, Ink and colors on silk, Image: 33 × 10 3/4 in. (83.8 × 27.3 cm); Overall with knobs: 73 × 17 1/2 in. (185.4 × 44.5 cm), On loan from the Catherine and Thomas Edson Collection, L.2011.10.60
Become A Member
SAMA is more than a museum; it’s a place to explore the world.
Ways to Support SAMA
See Membership Info
Open today
from 10AM–5PM
200 West Jones Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78215
Tel:
210.978.8100
Get Directions
Contact Us
About The Museum
Press
Event Rentals
Jobs
Volunteer / Internship
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
In The News
Member Magazine
Annual Reports
Donate to SAMA
© 2026 San Antonio Museum of Art. All rights reserved.