0-timeline - size 24 BakumatsuThe red circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

The later part of the Edo period is called Bakumatsu.  See the circled area on the timeline above.  Swords made during this time are called shin shin-to.   They are also called Fukko-to (復古刀: revived sword).  Fukko-to replicates the shape, hamon, boshi, and other features of the Ko-to and Shin-to swords.  The characteristics of the Shin Shin-to (新々刀) and well-known swordsmiths are listed below.

The Characteristics of Shin Shin-to

  • Katana, wakizashi, and tanto all tend to resemble or imitate the ko-to and shin-to in shape.
  • Many swords often have a Hi or detailed engravings.
  • One swordsmith would create multiple sword styles, such as Soshu-den, Bizen-den, and Shin-to style.
  • Often shows Katai-ha.

30 katai-ha

                                                                  Katai-ha

  • Weak (not tight) Nioi.
  • Yakidashi (2 to 3 inches above machi) is often suguha(straight line hamon), even though the rest of the area has irregular    Boshi is often irregular midare.
  • Detailed engravings are more realistic than those from earlier times.

Well-known swordsmiths of Shin Shin-to

  • Settsu (Osaka area) ——————Gassan Sadayoshi (月山貞吉), Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一). The Gassan family is known for their detailed carvings.
  • Musashi no Kuni (Tokyo area) ————-Suishinshi Masahide (水心子正秀),  Minamoto Kiyomaro (源 清麿),  Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤),  Taikei Yoshitane (大慶義胤).  Yoshitane is well-known for his carvings.                                               

Minamoto Kiyomaro(源清麿)    Once my family possession

  • Tosa (四国: Shikoku area) ———————————————- Sa Yukihide (左行秀)
  • Satsuma (鹿児島: Kagoshima) ———— Oku Moptohira (奥元平) Namino Hira (波平)

Meiji Ishin-To

Right before the Meiji Restoration, long swords (about 3 feet) without any curvature were made.  Sa Yukihide (from the Tosa area) forged this type of sword.  Saigo Takamori (西郷隆盛) and Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本龍馬) owned such swords.  Both are well-known historical figures from the Meiji Restoration.  Both were part of the Kin’no-to (勤皇党) group, which supported the emperor and reformed the political system.

 

Unknown's avatar

Published by Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江

I was born and raised in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, and then moved to Kamakura. Now I live in Los Angeles. I graduated from Meiji University and received a degree in literature and curatorship. I hold a curatorship license. I also graduated from California State University, Northridge, and earned an Economics degree. My father owned a manufacturing company related to metal. As his hobby, he had been collecting Japanese swords and other types of Japanese art objects. He was one of the administrators of Nihon Bijutu Token Hozon Kyokai(日本美術刀剣保存協会), which is a sword museum located in Tokyo. One of his friends (Mori Sensei), who was also the main administrator, used to hold a Japanese sword study group in his house. I joined his study group. Mori sensei’s group was very rare and valuable because he could bring top-quality swords as our study materials, due to his position in the museum. The kind of swords we could study were top-quality museum swords. Those are the kind of swords people could only see through the glass display cases. Also, I studied swords with my father since he kept many swords in our house. This is how I started to study Japanese swords.

One thought on “30| Shin-Shin-To 1781-1867 (Bakumatsu Period Sword 新々刀）”

Leave a comment