Black-Lacquered Daishō and Short Sword (黒漆塗大小・小さ刀) - Edo period - Main Museum Collection (Ii Family Heritage Materials)
These swords are traditionally associated with Ii Naonaka (井伊直中, 1794–1850), the eleventh lord of Hikone Domain. The set consists of a formal daishō (大小)—a matched pair of long and short swords—and a smaller sword intended for attendance at Edo Castle. The formal daishō was worn on ceremonial and official occasions as a symbol of samurai status. The smaller sword reflects the regulations and customs governing the carrying of weapons within the shogunal capital.
