May 2018 – Study of Japanese Sword

0-timeline - size 24 Sengoku Period The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

25 Chukanzori Tanto

Chukan-zori (中間反り) ————– The chukan-zori tanto features a straight mune (back). Its back does not curve either inward or outward.

Hamon (刃文: Tempered line) ————————————-Sanbon-sugi (三本杉), o-notare (大湾), yahazu-midare (矢筈乱), hako-midare (箱乱), gunome-choji (互の目丁子), chu-suguha (中直刃). See below.

24 Sannbon sugi,hako, yahazu, O-midare)

Horimono (彫り物: Carving) —————Often Hi (grooves) is curved

Tanto Length ————————— The standard tanto length should not exceed one shaku*¹ (about 12 inches, 30.5cm). The standard size tanto is called a Jo-sun tanto, which is roughly 8.5 shaku (about 10 inches, 25.7cm). Longer than jo-sun is called sun-nobi tanto (寸延). Shorter than jo-sun is called sun-zumari tanto (寸詰).

Sun-nobi Tanto > Jo-sun Tanto (approx. 10 inches) > Sun-zumari Tanto

**¹ Shaku is a traditional Japanese unit of length measurement.

Takenoko-zori jo-sun tanto (筍反定寸短刀)————– The takenoko-zori jo-sun tanto was made during the Sengoku period. It resembles swords made by Rai Kunimitsu of Yamashiro–den. (illustration below)

Hamon (刃文: Tempered line) ————– Hoso-suguha (細直刃: Narrow straight hamon). Katai-ha (illustration below) appears somewhere on the blade. Masame–hada (straight grain pattern) may be visible on the mune side.

13 Middle Kamakura Period Tanto 24 Suguha katai-ha

Ji-hada (地肌: The area between the shinogi and the tempered line)————– Some shirake (白け: a whitish surface) may sometimes appear. Some utsuri (a light, whitish, cloud-like effect) appears on the ji-hada.

Sun-nobi Tanto (寸延短刀)–————–This type of tanto resembles the sakizori tanto from the late Soshu-den period. You may see a hitatsura-type hamon. (illustration below). Unlike the Soshu-den style, the hitatsura pattern is more visible in the lower part of the tanto and less in the upper part.

25 Sun-Nobi Tanto 25 Hitatsura

Hirazukuri Takenokozori Sunzumari Tanto (平造筍反寸詰短刀)

This is a unique tanto from the Sengoku period. Hirazukuri means a flat-surfaced sword without a shinogi, yokote line, or obvious kissaki. Takenoko-zori refers to a bamboo shoot shape (the back of the sword curves inward). Sun-zumari indicates a blade shorter than 10 inches (less than 8.5 shaku or 25.7 cm). The lower part of the blade is wide and thick, while the tip is narrow and thin. It has a piercing, sharp appearance.

Horimono (彫物: Engraving) ————- Deeply carved ken-maki ryu (a dragon wrapped around a spear).

Hamon (刃文: Tempered line)——— Wide tempered line, with a nioi base. Irregular hamon, with wide suguha (straight), and chu-suguha (medium straight). The hamon in the boshi area curves back deeply.

Ji-hada (地肌)———– fine ji-gane and wood burl pattern.

Moroha-tanto (諸刃短刀: Double-edged sword)

A double-edged sword with a hamon on both cutting edges. Often, Bonji (Sanskrit) is curved.

Hamon (刃文: Tempered line) ——— Wide tempered line. Nioi base. Irregular hamon, wide suguha (straight tempered line), and chu-suguha (medium straight tempered line). The hamon turns back deeply.
Ji-hada (地肌: The area between the shinogi and the tempered line)——- Fine ji-gane and wood burl pattern.

25-moroha-tanto1 Moroha Tanto

The Swordsmith for Tanto during the Sengoku Period

The Bizen swords from the Sengoku period are called sue-bizen. Sue is pronounced “su” and “e“ as in egg. Bizen Osafune Yoso-Zaemon Sukesada (与三左衛門祐定) is the most famous swordsmith of the Sengoku period. He also forged tantos. One thing to note is that many swordsmiths had the name Sukesada. Yoso-Zaemon Sukesada is the one who best represents the era.

0-timeline - size 24 Sengoku period

The red circle above indicate the time we discuss in this section

After the Onin-no-ran, Kyoto was left in a devastated state. Almost all the distinguished swordsmiths in the Kyoto area were gone. Many Sengoku daimyo (warlords or feudal lords) needed swords from nearby regions. The Mino and Bizen areas were the main centers of sword production during the Sengoku period, because Mino Province was conveniently located for many feudal lords. Also, the Shizu group from Yamato-den (school) moved to Mino Province. Tegai Kaneyoshi from Yamato-den moved to Mino, and many swordsmiths from the Yamashiro and Yamato areas also moved to Mino. As a result, Mino could supply a large demand for swords. During this wartime period, samurai sought practical swords that would not bend or break yet still cut well. Along with swordsmiths in the Mino area, Bizen Osafune swordsmiths also met the high demand.

Kazu-Uchi-Mono and Chumon-Uchi

Kazu-uchi-mono was a sword made just well enough for one battle. They were not intended for long-term preservation.
Chumon-uchi was a custom-made sword. They were well-shaped, well-forged, and often engraved with the swordsmith’s name as well as the name of the person who ordered it.

Characteristics of Mino-Den Swords

Sugata (姿：shape) ————– Shallow curvature, low gyo-no-mune, chu–kissaki with fukura. The width and thickness are neither too wide nor too thick. Engraving is rare on Mino-den swords. On Bizen-den swords, the bottom of the bo-hi (single groove) has a rounded end (see the photo on P.100) just above the machi area (for machi, see the diagram in Chapter 3: Names of parts).

13 Mune drawing

Hamon (刃文: Tempered line)

Mino Den ——–Mostly Nioi. Sanbon-sugi (pointed Gunome ), O-notare, Yahazu-midare, Hako-midare (box shape), Chu-suguha with Katai-ha. See the drawings below. Also, Mino Koshi-ba appeared. Mino Koshi-ba: approx. 1-inch Sugu-ha at the bottom, followed by irregular Hamon, then Chu-suguha at the top.

Mino-Den Hamon

24 Sannbon sugi,hako, yahazu, O-midare) 24 Suguha katai-ha

Bizen-Den ———-Mostly Nioi. Wide tempered line. Koshi-hiraita-midare. See the drawings below.

Bizen-Den Hamon

22Hamon (Koshi Hiraita midare) — from Sano Museum Catalogue

Boshi ((鋩子: Tempered line at the kissaki area)—————————–Turn back deep. Jizo-boshi (side view of a monk’s head), Ko-maru (small round), kaeri-yoru (lean)

24 jizo-boshi Keri-yoru

Ji-hada (地肌: the area between shinogi and the tempered area)————Mokume (wood burl) mixed with masame (straight grain). It often shows masame in the shinogi area. Sometimes, mokume stands out.

Swordsmiths during the Sengoku Period

Mino-Den———Magoroku Kanemoto (孫六兼元) Izuminokami Kanesada (和泉守兼定) Bizen-Den —-Yosozaemon Sukesada (興三左衛門祐定) Norimitsu (則光) Tadamitu(忠光)

Yosozaemon Sukesada (Sano Museum) 興三左衛門祐定（佐野美術館） Permission granted

Month: May 2018

24| Sengoku Period Tanto (戦国時代短刀)

23| Sengoku Period Sword　(戦国時代刀）