The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section
It is believed that sword-making first started in Yamato province (now Nara Prefecture) during the Nara period (710 to 794). In the early days of sword-making, the forging techniques were primitive. At that time, many swordsmiths lived in Yamato, but over time, sword-making in this region declined.
At the end of the Kamakura period, several powerful Buddhist temples emerged in the Yamato area, leading to conflicts among them. Temples held significant political and military power to control large territories called shoen (荘園) through their large numbers of warrior monks, known as sohei (僧兵). The most dominant group was Nanto Sohei (南都僧兵)*. These groups of sohei demanded more swords to arm themselves, which revitalized the Yamato-den (school) and increased the number of swordsmiths in the Yamato area. As a result, the Yamato-den group became active again. The Yamato-den style is somewhat similar to the Yamashiro-den.
*Nanto Sohei (南都僧兵)—————-Since around the 11th century, Buddhist temples grew powerful under the protection of the Joko (retired emperors). These temples had many sohei (low-level monks who also served as soldiers). When power struggles arose among the temples, sohei fought as their soldiers on the battlefields. Nanto Sohei were such soldiers at Kofuku-Ji Temple (興福寺). Several large temples, such as Todai-ji (東大寺) Temple, controlled the Yamato area.
Sugata (姿: Shape) —————- Not much difference in style during the early part of Yamato–den and Yamashiro-den. Shinogi is high. Mune is thin. Some Yamato-den have a shallow sori (curvature).
Hamon (刃文：Tempered line) ——————Narrow tempered line. Mainly nie (沸). Chu-suguha-hotsure (中直刃ほつれ: a medium straight line with a frayed pattern), ko-choji-midare (小丁子: a mixture of small clove-like patterns and irregular wavy lines), ko-midare (小乱: small irregular wavy lines), ko-gunome-komidare (小五の目小乱: small continuous half-circles mixed with wavy lines).
The main features of the Yamato–den style sword are masame (straight grain). Its tempered line often shows nijyu-ha (double straight lines), hakikake (brush mark trace), uchinoke (a crescent-shaped line), or a combination of these. See the illustration below.
Boshi (鋩子: Tempered line at Kissaki area) ———- In the boshi area, a straight grain hamon pattern appears. Yakizume or kaen. (Refer to Chapter 12, Middle Kamakura period: Tanto). O-maru, ko-maru, nie-kuzure. (Refer to Chapter 14, Late Kamakura Period Sword. See the illustration below.)
Ji-hada (地肌)：Area between the shinogi and the tempered line)———— mostly masame-hada (straight grain pattern 柾目肌). Fine ji-nie, chikei, or yubashiri. (Refer to Chapter 14, Late Kamakura Period Sword (鎌倉末太刀). See below.)
Nakago (Hilt) ———————– Often displays Higaki Yasuri (檜垣), the finishing file pattern, as illustrated below.
Names of the Yamato School Sword-smiths
Taema(当麻) Group————–Taema Kuniyuki(当麻国行) Taema Tomokiyo(当麻友清) Shikkake (尻懸) Group———————————————-Shikkake Norinaga (尻懸則長) Tegai (手掻) group ——————Tegai Kanenaga (手掻包永) Tegai Kanekiyo(手掻包清) Hoshou (保昌) group———Hosho Sadayoshi ( 保昌貞吉) Hosho Sadamune (保昌貞宗)
Yamato Senjuin Saya Enso (大和千手院沙弥円宗) once my family sword
Study of Japanese Sword 