Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 64|Part 2 pf - - - 28 Main 7 Area Among shin-To Sword (part A), Uncategorized

61|Part 2 of — 27 Shin-to Main 7 Regions (part A)

Chapter 61 is a detailed part of Chapter 27, Shinto Main 7 Regions (part A).  Please read Chapter 27 before reading this section. 

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

Chapter 27, Shin-to Main 7 Regions (Part A), and Chapter 28, Shin-to Main 7 Regions (Part B), describe an overview of the seven main regions.  This chapter and the next chapter show photos of representative swords from these areas.  They are Yamashiro (山城, in Kyoto), Settsu (摂津, today’s Osaka), Musashi (武蔵, Edo), and Satsuma (薩摩, Kyushu).  However, Echizen (越前), Kaga (加賀), and Hizen (肥前) are omitted.

29 Map with number 7

With ko-to swords, features such as the condition of the hamon, kissaki size, length, and  shape of the nakago, etc., indicate when the sword was made.  During the ko-to time, Bizen swordsmiths made Bizen-den swords, Yamashiro swordsmiths made Yamashiro-den swords, and Mino swordsmiths made the Mino-den swords.  However, during the shin-to-time, that is not the case.  The den and the swordsmith’s location often do not match.  For shin-to swords, we study the swordsmiths and swords from the seven main regions along with their characteristics.

Regarding swords made during the ko-to time, if a sword has a wide hamon line with  nie, usually, its ji-hada shows a large wood grain or a large burl grain.  Also, when you see a narrow hamon line, it usually features a fine ji-hada.

However, with shin-to swords, if a sword shows a wide hamon with nie, it often has a small wood grain or small burl grain pattern on ji-hada.  If it has a narrow hamon line, it may have a large wood grain pattern on the ji-hada.  This is a shin-to characteristic.   

Here is an exception: some of the early Soshu-den swords from the late Kamakura period may show wide hamon with nie, which has small burls on the ji-hada.  Because of that, whether it is ko-to or shin-to is confusing.  Even so, other features such as ji-hada or other parts should indicate whether it is shin-to or ko-to.

  1. Yamashiro (山城: Kyoto)

 Horikawa Kunihiro   (堀川国広)   From Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)

Horikawa Kunihiro (堀川国広)

Horikawa Kunihiro was regarded as a master swordsmith among shin-to swordsmiths.  He forged swords in many styles with various characteristics.  The hamon types are o-notare, o-gunome, togari-ba (pointed hamon), chu-suguha with hotsure (frayed look), hiro-suguha with a sunagashi effect, inazuma, and kinsuji.  Kunihiro preferred to shape his swords to resemble an o-suriage (shortened Nanboku-cho style long sword).  Kunihiro‘s blades give a powerful impression.  Kunihiro‘s swords often feature beautiful carvings; designs include dragons, Sanskrit letters, and more.  Since he created swords in many different styles, there is no general characteristic that defines his work other than the hamon mainly being nie.  His ji-hada is finely forged.                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                 

img067.jpg  img068.jpg           Iga-no-Kami Kinnmichi (伊賀守金道)           Dewa Daijyo Kunimichi (出羽大掾国路)        Both Juyo Token (重要刀剣), once my family owned, photos were taken by my father.

Iga-no-Kami Kinmichi ( 伊賀守金道)

The Kinmichi family is called the Mishina group.  Refer to 27 Shinto Main 7 Regions  Part A.   Iga-no-Kami Kinmichi was awarded the Japanese Imperial chrysanthemum crest. 

The characteristics of Kinmichi ——– Wide sword, shallow curvature, an extended kissaki, sakizori (curvature at 1/3 top),  a wide tempered line, kyo-yakidashi (see 27 Shinto Main 7 Regions  A ), hiro-suguha (wide straight hamon), o-notare (large wavy), yahazu-midare, hako-midare (refer to 24 Sengoku Period Tanto).  Mishina-boshi, refer to 27 Shin-to Main 7 Regions A.  Fine wood burl, masame appear in the shinogi-ji area.   

Dewa Daijo Kunimichi (出羽大掾国路)

Dewa Daijo Kunimichi was the top student of Horikawa Kunihiro.  The right photo above.  Like Kunihiro, the sword resembles a shortened Nanboku-cho sword.  Shallow curvature, a wide body, a somewhat elongated kissaki, and fukura-kareru (less arch in fukura).   Wide tempered lines, large gunome, nie with sunagashi, or inazuma shows.  Double gunome (two gunome side by side) appears.  Fine ji-hada.

  1. Settu (摂津) Osaka (大阪 )

Settu (Osaka) is home to many famous swordsmiths.  They are Kawachi-no-Kami Kunisuke (河内守国助), Tsuda Echizen-no-Kami Sukehiro (津田越前守助広), Inoue Shinkai (井上真改), and Ikkanshi Tadatsuna (一竿子忠綱), etc.                                        The main characteristic of the Settsu (Osaka) sword ——– The surface is beautiful and fine, almost a solid surface with no pattern or design.  The two photos below are of the Settsu sword.

              Ikkanshi Tadatsuna from the Sano Museum Catalogue.  Permission granted to use.

Ikkanshi Tadatsuna (一竿子忠綱)

Ikkanshi Tadatsuna was famous for his carvings.  His father was also a well-known swordsmith, Omi-no-Kami Tadatsuna (近江守忠綱).  Consequently, he was known as Awataguchi Omi-no-Kami Fujiwara Tadatsuna (粟田口近江守藤原忠綱), as shown in the nakago photo above.                                                                                                         The characteristics of Ikkanshi Tadatsuna ——-A longer kissaki and a wide-tempered line with nie.  The Osaka yakidashi (transition between the suguha above machi and midare is smooth.  Refer to 27 Shin-to Sword – Main 7 Regions (Part A) for Osaka yakidashi.  O-notare with gunome, komaru-boshi with a turn back, and very fine ji-hada with almost no pattern on the surface.

                        Inoue Shinkai (井上真改) from “Nippon-to Art Swords of Japan” The Walter A. Compton Collection

Inoue Shinkai (井上真改)

Inoue Shinkai was the second generation of Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada (和泉守国貞), who was a student of Kunihiro.                                                                                                     The characteristic of Inoue Shinkai’s swords —————- Osaka yakidashi, the tempered line gradually widens toward the top.  O-notare and deep nie.  Very fine ji-hada with almost no surface design.

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 63❘Part 2 of --- 27 |Overview of Shin-To (新刀）, Uncategorized

60|Part 2 of – – 26 Overview of Shin-To　(新刀概要）

Chapter 60 is a detailed part of Chapter 26, Overview of Shinto (新刀概要).  Please read Chapter 26 before reading this section.

0-timeline - size 24 edo Period

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

The difficulty of Shin-to Kantei

Regarding swords from the ko-to period, you can estimate when they were made by analyzing their style and shape.  Several factors indicate which period and which Gokaden (五ヶ伝) created the sword by examining several points, such as the appearance of the hamon or the appearance of the ji-gane.  However, swords from the shin-to period do not follow this method.                                                                                                                                         

Although there are differences among shin-to swords made during the early Edo period, around the Keicho (慶長: 1596 ~) era, the middle Edo period, that is around the Kanbun (寛文: 1661 ~) era, and the late Edo period, that is the Genroku era (元禄: 1688 ~), these differences are not much. 

The same applies to the Gokaden (五ヶ伝) during the shin-to time.  In the ko-to time, Bizen swordsmiths forged swords with Bizen characteristics.  Swords made by Yamato swordsmiths usually showed the Yamato-den features.  However, during the shin-to time, a swordsmith from one specific den sometimes forged blades in the style of another den’s features.  As a result, it is difficult to determine the maker of a particular sword. 

For shin-to, we will study the characteristics of the seven main locations, which will be discussed in the following chapters.

Picturesque Hamon

During and after the Genroku era (元禄1688 – 1704), some picturesque hamon style became a trendy style.  Several swordsmiths created picturesque hamon on wakizashi and short swords.  As it gained popularity, especially among foreigners, most of these swords were exported from Japan around the time of the Meiji Restoration.  Today, very few remain in Japan.

The swordsmiths who made picturesque  Hamon 

Yamashiro (山城) area ———————————-Iga-no-kami Kinmichi (伊賀守金道),                                                                                       Omi-no-kami Hisamichi (近江守久道)

Settsu (摂津) area ———————————Tanba-no-Kami Yoshimichi  (丹波守吉道)                                                                                 Yamato-no-Kami Yoshimichi (大和守吉道)

Below are examples.  Fuji is the Mount Fuji design.  Kikusui is a chrysanthemum in the water.

63 fuji sakura hamon

　　　　　　　　Fuji                                　     Kikusui

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 62| Part 2 of - - -26|Edo Period History(江戸時代）1603 - 1867, Uncategorized

59| Part 2 of — 25 Edo Period History (江戸時代歴史)

This chapter is a detailed part of Chapter 25 Edo Period History (江戸時代歴史).  Please read Chapter 25 before reading this section.

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

Battle of Sekigahara  (関ヶ原合戦)

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉), the most powerful figure during the Sengoku and Momoyama periods, died in 1598. His heir, Hideyori (秀頼), was only five years old. Before Hideyoshi’s death, he established a council system composed of the top five daimyo to oversee Hideyori’s affairs as regents until he reached adulthood.  

At Hideyoshi’s deathbed, all five Daimyo agreed to serve as guardians of Hideyori.  However, over time, Ishida Mitsunari (石田三成) and Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) began to disagree.  In 1600, finally, the two main Daimyo clashed, leading to the Battle of Sekigahara.  One side is called Seigun (the Western army), led by Ishida Mitsunari and the other is Togun (the Eastern army), led by Tokugawa Ieyasu.  

All the daimyo across the country took either Tokugawa’s side or Ishida Mitsunari’s side.  It is said that Mitsunari’s forces had 100,000 men, while Tokugawa’s forces had 70,000.  Ieyasu had fewer soldiers, but he ultimately won.  Ieyasu became the chief retainer of the Toyotomi clan, meaning he was virtually the top figure since Hideyori was still a child.   

In 1603, Ieyasu became a Shogun.  Now, Ieyasu took control of Japan, establishing the Tokugawa Bakufu (government) in Edo and eliminating the council system. 

Toyotomi Hideyori lived with his mother, Yodo-gimi (or Yodo-dono), at Osaka Castle, which Hideyoshi had built before he died.  Over time, tensions arose between Hideyori and Yodo-gimi in Osaka and Ieyasu in Edo.  Yodo-gimi was a proud and headstrong person for good reason.  She was the niece of Oda Nobunaga, the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the mother of Hideyori, the head of the Toyotomi clan.  Later, her pride got her into trouble and contributed to the downfall of the Toyotomi clan. 

Siege of Osaka: Winter (1614) and Summer ( 1615) Campaigns

During the 15 years between the Battle of Sekigahara and the Siege of Osaka Castle, tensions between the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Toyotomi clan steadily increased.  Before the Battle of Sekigahara, the Toyotomi clan ruled Japan.  After Sekigahara, the Tokugawa bakufu began to govern Japan.  The Toyotomi clan lost many key advisors and vassals in the battle.  As a result, Toyotomi’s power was centered around Yodo-gimi.  By the time of the siege, Hideyori had grown into a fine young man, but Yodo-gimi had overprotected and controlled her son.  She wouldn’t even allow Hideyori to practice kendo (the traditional Japanese swordsmanship), saying it was too dangerous. 

She persistently acted as if the Toyotomi clan still held the highest power.  Tokugawa Ieyasu tried to ease tensions by arranging for his granddaughter, Sen-hime, to marry Hideyori.  A few advisors suggested that Yodo-gimi should yield to Tokugawa, but she insisted that Tokugawa had to subordinate himself to Toyotomi.   Rumors began to circulate that the Toyotomi side was hiring and gathering many ronin (unemployed samurai) within Osaka Castle.  Several key figures tried to mediate between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans but were unsuccessful.

Finally, Ieyasu led his army to Osaka, and in November 1614, he launched a campaign to siege Osaka Castle (the Winter Campaign).  It is said that the Toyotomi side had 100,000 soldiers, though some were merely mercenaries.  However, Osaka Castle was built almost like a fortress, making it very difficult to attack.  The Tokugawa army attacked fiercely and fired cannons daily, but they realized the castle was so well built that it was a waste of time to keep trying. 

Eventually, both sides entered peace negotiations.  They agreed on several items in the treaty.  One of them was to fill the outer moat of Osaka Castle.  However, the Tokugawa side filled both the outer and inner moats.  That angered the Toyotomi side, and they became suspicious that the Tokugawa might not keep the agreement.   

Another agreement was the disarmament of the Toyotomi clan.  However, the Toyotomi side kept their soldiers inside the castle.  Tokugawa issued a final ultimatum to the Toyotomi side: remove all soldiers from the castle or vacate it.  Yodo-gimi refused both demands. 

After that, another siege started in the summer of 1615 (the Summer Campaign).  It is said that the Toyotomi had 70,000 men, while the Tokugawa had 150,000 men.  Both sides fought in several battles here and there, but the early battles did not go well for either side due to thick fog, delayed troop arrivals, and miscommunication. The final battle took place at Osaka Castle.  The Toyotomi decided to stay inside the castle, but soon, a fire broke out from within and burned the castle down.  Yodo-gimi and Hideyori hid inside a storage building, waiting for Ieyasu’s response to their pleas for mercy.  They hoped their daughter-in-law could negotiate the terms of the deal.  However, it was not accepted, and both died inside the storage building.

Nene and Yodo-gimi

Nene was the lawful wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  She was a bright and wise person, though not of noble birth.  Everyone respected her, including Tokugawa Ieyasu.  Even Hideyoshi often valued her opinions on political matters.   She helped Hideyoshi rise through the ranks.  However, Nene was unable to have children.  Toyotomi Hideyoshi went around other women everywhere, hoping to get his heir, but none could have his child except Yodo-gimi.  Naturally, rumors circulated about who the true biological father was.  Speculation pointed to several men, one of whom was Ishida Mitsunari.   

62 Yodo Gimi

伝　淀殿画像（It is said to be a portrait of Yodo-dono, but there is no evidence.）Owned by the Nara Museum of Art, Public Domain:  Yodo-dono cropped.jpg from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository.


 Nene (Kodai-in), the lawful wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Image in the public domain from Wikimedia, owned by Kodai-ji(高台寺）

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 Uncategorized

2019 San Francisco Sword show

Here are several pictures of 2019 San Francisco Sword Show that I attended last weekend.  It was a such a pleasure meeting several of you guys.  Mr. Yoshihara brought his grandson to this meeting as debut as a new sword maker. It is nice to see a next generation of sword maker.

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This is the 2019 San Francisco Sword Show

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Mr. Yoshindo Yoshihara (left), Me (middle), Mrs. Kapp (right)

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They also had entertainment, such as singing and dancing.

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Yoshindo and his grand-son (2019 Sword Show is his debut as a sword maker)

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Yoshindo is a very good cook.  He had after party at Kapp’s house.