Akihiro – Study of Japanese Sword

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During the Nanboku-cho period, a type of tanto called hirazukuri ko-wakizashi sun-nobi tanto was made. Hirazukuri means flat swords without the yokote line or shinogi. Ko-wakizashi refers to a shorter sword. Sun-nobi tanto means longer than a standard tanto. This type is also known as Enbun Jyoji ko-wakizashi tanto because most of these tantos were created during the Enbun and Jyoji eras of the imperial period. In Japan, a new imperial era begins when a new emperor ascends to the throne. The Enbun era spanned 1356-1361, while the Jyoji period spanned 1362-1368.

20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

Sugata (姿: shape) ————A standard tanto measure is approximately one shaku. Shaku is an old Japanese unit of measurement for length, and one shaku is roughly equal to one foot.

8.5 sun (the sun is another old Japanese measurement unit of length) is approximately ten inches. Ten inches is the standard size for a tanto, known as a josun tanto. Anything longer than a josun tanto is called a sun-nobi tanto. Anything shorter than a josun is called a sun-zumari tanto.

Most of the Nanboku-cho tantos are longer than a josun tanto, approximately one foot two inches. Therefore, they are called hirazukuri ko-wakizashi sun-nobi tanto. Saki-zori (curved outward at the top. See the illustration above). Wide in width and thin in body. Fukura kareru (no fukura means less arc). Shin-no-mune. See the drawing below.

20 Fukura 20 Shin-no-Mune

Hi, (樋: Grooves) and Horimono (彫り物: Engraving) ——- A groove or grooves on the mune side. Bonji (Sanskrit, see Chapter 16 Late Kamakura Period (Early Soshu-Den Tanto), koshi-bi (short groove), tumetuki ken, and tokko-tsuki ken (see below) appear. The ken (dagger) is curved widely and deeply in the upper part and shallower and narrower in the lower part. This is called Soshu-bori (Soshu-style carving).

20 Tokko, tume Ken

Hamon (刃: Tempered line) ——- The narrowly tempered section at the lower part gradually widens toward the top. A similar wide hamon pattern extends into the boshi area. The hamon in the kissaki area is kaeri-fukashi (deep turn back). See the illustration below. Coarse nie. O-midare (large irregular hamon pattern).

20 Hitatsura

From Sano Museum Catalogue

Ji-hada (地肌: the area between shinogi-ji and the tempered line) ——– a loose wood grain pattern called itame. Yubashiri (see Chapter 16, Late Kamakura Period) and tobiyaki (irregular patchy tempered spots) appear. Dense tobiyaki is called hitatsura (see the drawing above).

Nakago (茎: Tang) —- Short tanago-bara. Tanago-bara refers to the shape of the belly of a Japanese fish called tanago (bitterling).

20 Tanago Bara

Tanto Swordsmiths during the Nanboku-Cho Period

Soshu Den ———————————————————-Hiromitu( 広光) Akihiro (秋広) Yamashiro Den ————————————————–Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重) Bizen Den ——————————————————— Kanemitu (兼光) Chogi (長義 )

Soshu Hiromitsu “Nippon-To Art Sword of Japan “ The Walter A. Compton Collection

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho

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

After Jokyu-no-ran (Chapter 10 Jokyu-no-ran), the power of the Imperial Court declined significantly. The successor, the Hojo clan, which was a dominant force during the Kamakura period, also began to face financial difficulties and began to lose control over regional lords. One reason was the costs incurred by the Mongol invasion. The Kamakura bakufu (government) could not adequately reward the samurai who fought hard during the war. As a result, they became very dissatisfied with the bakufu. Seeing this as an opportunity, Emperor Go-Daigo attempted to attack the Kamakura bakufu twice but failed both times. He was exiled to Oki Island. In the meantime, Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏) and several groups of anti-Kamakura samurai gathered armed forces and succeeded in destroying the Kamakura bakufu in 1333. This war ended the Kamakura period.

Emperor Go-Daigo, who had been exiled to Oki Island, returned to Kyoto and attempted political reforms. This reform was known as Kenmu-no-chuko (or Kenmu-no-shinsei, 建武の中興). However, his reforms failed to satisfy most of the ruling class. Seeing an opportunity, Ashikaga Takauji attacked the Imperial Court in Kyoto, deposed Emperor Go-Daigo, and installed a member of a different branch of the Imperial family as emperor.

Emperor Go-Daigo, however, insisted on his legitimacy, moved to Yoshino in the south of Kyoto, and established another Imperial court. Thus, the Northern and Southern Dynasties began. With much strife between these rival courts and internal problems within each court, more samurai groups began to move to the Northern Dynasty. About sixty years later, the Southern Dynasty was forced to accept the Northern Dynasty’s proposal. Consequently, the Northern Dynasty became the legitimate imperial court. This sixty-year period is referred to as the Nanboku-cho or Yoshino-cho period.

During the Nanboku-cho period, samurai preferred longer, more elaborate, yet practical swords. The Soshu-den was at the height of its prominence. However, the Soshu group was not the only one to produce Soshu-den-style swords. Other schools and provinces in different areas also made Soshu-den-style swords.

Late Kamakura Period Swordsmiths (Early Soshu-Den time)