Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 65 | Part 2 of --- 29 | Main 7 Area Among Shin-To Sword (part B), Uncategorized

62|Part 2 of — 28 Shin-To Main 7 Region (part B)

This chapter is a detailed part of Chapter 28, Shin-t Main 7 Regions (part B).  Please read Chapter 28 before reading this chapter.  Below are regions 3 and 7.

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

29 Map with number 7

3.Musashi (Edo)

We also find many famous swordsmiths in Edo.  They were Yasutsugu (康継), Kotetsu (虎徹), Noda Hankei (野田繁慶), Hojoji Masahiro (法成寺正弘), and their followers.

Two photos below are swordsmiths from Musashi (武蔵: Tokyo).  

                       Yasutsugu  From the Sano Museum Catalogue.  (Permission to use granted)

Characteristics of Yasutusgu (康継) ——Shallow curvature; chu-gissaki (medium kissaki); a wide notare hamon, midare, or o-gunome (occasionally double gunome); traces of Soshu-den and Mino-den; a wood-grain pattern mixed with masame on the shinogi-ji.

 

              Kotetsu (虎徹) from Sano Museum Catalogue, (permission to use granted)

Here is the famous Kotetsu.  His formal name was Nagasone Okisato Nyudo Kotetsu (長曽祢興里入道虎徹).   Kotetsu started making swords after turning 50.  Before that, he was an armor maker.  

The characteristics of Kotetsu ———————— A shallow curvature and wide width, a wide tempered line with nie.  A small irregular hamon surrounds the machi area, transitioning into a wide suguha-like notare in the upper area.  Fine nie, komaru–boshi with a short turn back.  The ji-hada is a fine-grained wood with burl.  Occasionally, o-hada (black core iron shows through) appears in the lower part above the machi area.  The illustration above shows a thick-tempered line with nie, a typical feature of Kotetsu. Once you see it, you will remember it.   The next region is 7 (skip 4, 5, and 6)

 

  1. Satsuma (Kyushu) 

  Miyahara Mondonosho Masakiyo (宮原主水正正清) from Sano Museum Catalogue (permission to use granted).

Miyahara Mondonosho Masakiyo was highly respected by the Shimazu family of Satsuma- han (the Satsuma domain in Kyushu).  Later, he was chosen to travel to Edo to forge swords for Shogun Yoshimune. 

Mondonosho Masakiyo’s characteristics————- Well-balanced sword shape, shallow curvature, and wide and narrow hamon mixed with squarish hamon and pointed hamon as shown in the photo above.  He engraved the Tokugawa family’s Aoi crest (the hollyhock crest) on the nakago.

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 61| Part 2 of --- 25|Sengoku Period Tanto (1467 - 1596), Uncategorized

58|Part 2 of — 24 Sengoku Period Tanto (戦国時代短刀)

Chapter 58 is a detailed section of Chapter 24, Sengoku Period Tanto.  Please read Chapter 24, Sengoku Period Tanto, before reading this part. 

0-timeline - size 24 Sengoku Period

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

Muramasa (村正)

This chapter discusses the famous Muramasa (村正).  Usually, many well-known swordsmiths come from one of the Goka-den (五家伝: the five main schools: Yamashiro-den, Bizen-den, Soshu-den, Yamato-den, and Mino-den).  However, Muramasa was not from Goka-den but from Ise Province.  The first-generation Muramasa was known as a student of He’ian-jo Nagayoshi (平安城長吉) of Yamashiro-den.  The Muramasa family existed through the mid-Muromachi period.  They spanned three generations from the mid-Muromachi to the Sengoku period. 

61 Ise map

Below is one of Muramasa’s tantos, made during the Sengoku period.  Since it was made during the Sengoku era, the blade shows the style of Sengoku-period swords.  It reflects Mino-den characteristics, combined with Soshu-den traits. 

     

 Muramasa (村正) from Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)

Characteristics  on this Tanto

Muramasa’s tantos are typically about ten inches ± half an inch or so.  Hirazukuri (平作り). Thin blades with a sharp look.  The nioi base with small nie and sunagashi patterns (brushed sand-like patterns, as shown in the illustration below) appears.  The boshi (the top part of the hamon) is jizo (a side view of a human head).  The tempered line varies with both wide and narrow areas.  Some areas are so narrow, almost close to the edge of the blade, while others are broader.  Hako midare (box-like shape) and gunome (lined-up bead pattern) appear.  O-notare (large, gentle waviness) is a signature characteristic of Muramasa.  The pointed-tempered line is a typical characteristic of Mino-den (Sanbon-sugi).  Refer to Chapter 23, Sengoku Period Sword, and Chapter 24, Sengoku Period Tanto.

                                       

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 60| Second Part of ---24 Sengoku Period Sword

57| Part 2 of — 23 Sengoku Period Sword (戦国時代刀)

Chapter 57 is a detailed section of Chapter 23, Sengoku Period Sword.  Please read Chapter 23, Sengoku Period Sword, before reading this part.

0-timeline - size 24 Sengoku Period

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

During the Sengoku period (Warring States era), the Mino-den and Bizen Osafune groups were the leading sword makers.  For nearly 100 years during the Warring States period, all daimyo needed numerous swords.  Having suppliers nearby was more advantageous.  Many Sengoku daimyo (戦国大名: warlords) could easily access the Mino region because of its central location.  Since the Heian period, Mino swordsmiths have been producing swords there.  One of the well-known swordsmiths of Mino-den at the end of the Kamakura period was Shizu Kane’uji (志津兼氏).  He was one of the Masamune juttettu (正宗十哲)*.  However, the true peak of the Mino-den came during the Sengoku period.  During the Sengoku period, the Shizu and Tegai groups from the Yamato region, and swordsmiths from the Yamashiro area, moved to Mino.  Mino became the busiest center for sword-making, producing practical swords for feudal lords.

60-mino-map.jpg

*Masamune Juttetsu (正宗十哲) ———-The original meaning of Masamune Juttetsu was the top 10 Masamune students.  However, the term was later used more broadly.  Masamune Juttetsu (正宗十哲)：https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/7194/

Three examples of Sengoku period swords

The three swords listed below are examples of swords from the Sengoku period.  Note that each sword is unique.  Even when the same swordsmith forged swords, each one is different.  Please refer to Chapter 23, Sengoku Period Sword, for the key characteristics of swords made during the Sengoku period.

            Bizen Osafune Yosozaemon Sukesada (備前国住長船与三左衛門尉祐定) from Sano Museum Catalog (permission granted).

 Characteristis on the sword above

Hamon is Kani-no-tsume (crab-claw pattern; see the hamon above).  The Kani-no-tsume pattern hamon never appeared during the Heian, Kamakura, or Nanboku-cho periods.  This type of hamon is one of the key factors in determining whether a sword is from the  Sengoku Period.  Marudome-hi (the end of the groove is rounded) often appears on Bizen-den swords during the Sengoku period.  Wide tempered area.  The midare-komi boshi (where the hamon on the body and the boshi share the same pattern) has a long turn-back that stops abruptly.  The hamon has a nioi base, and most Bizen swords feature nioi, though a few exceptions exist.

60 kanesada illustration Izuminokami Fujiwara Kanesada (和泉守藤原兼㝎)　from Sano Museum Catalog

Characteristic  on the sword above

The last character of the kanji (Chinese characters) in the swordsmith’s name above is “㝎.”  We use this uncommon character instead of the standard “定” for him.  Because there are two Kanesada.  To distinguish him from the other Kanesada (兼定), we use the character “㝎 “and call him Nosada “のさだ.”

Izuminokami Fujiwara Kanesada (AKA Nosada) was the leading swordsmith of Mino-den during that time.  The sword’s shape is typical of the Sengoku period: shallow curvature, a chu-gissaki (medium-sized kissaki), and a pointed gunome hamon.  The hamon width can be wide and narrow.  Nosada and other Mino-den swordsmiths often exhibit wood-grain patterns with masame on the ji-hada.  Nioi base, mixed with coarse nie. 

      Bizen Osafune Norimitsu (備前長船法光) from Sano Museum Catalog, permission granted.

Characteristic of the sword above

Shallow curvature.  Sturdy appearance.   Marudome-hi (the hi ends are rounded).  The pointed hamon is called togari-ba (尖り刃).  Nioi base, mixed with nie.  Slight masame and wood grain patterns on Ji-hada.

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 58｜Part 2 of ----- 22| Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代), Uncategorized

55 |Part 2 of —–21 Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代刀)

Chapter 55 is a detailed section of Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword.  Please read Chapter 21 before reading this part.

57 Muromach-timeline size 22

                         The circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

After the Muromachi period, swords shifted to katana(刀) from tachi (太刀), as described in Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword.  Refer to Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword.  By the end of the Nanboku-cho period, sword lengths had shortened to about 2 feet ± a few inches.  The 3-to-5-foot-long swords seen during the Nanboku-cho period were no longer produced.  This change occurred because, during the Nanboku-cho period, warriors mainly fought on horseback, but after the Muromachi period, infantry combat became more common.

Oei Bizen (応永備前)                                                                                                              The pronunciation of Oei is “O” as in “Oh” and “ei” as in “A” from ABC.  The Muromachi period was a declining time for sword-making.  The swords made during the early Muromachi period in the Bizen area is known as Oei Bizen.  Osafune Morimitsu (長船盛光), Osafune Yasumitsu (長船康光), and Osafune Moromitsu (長船師光) were the main Oei Bizen swordsmiths.  Soshu Hiromasa (相州広正) and Yamashiro Nobukuni (山城信國) were also similar to the Oei Bizen style.  Please refer to Chapter 21, Muromachi Period Sword, for details on the  Muromachi sword shape, Hamon, Boshi, and Ji-hada.

                       Bishu Osafune Moromitsu (備州長船師光)   from Sano Museum Catalogue ((permission granted)

The Osafune Moromitsu sword shown above measures 2 feet 5 inches in length and has a medium kissaki.  Its hamon has a small wave-like pattern with continuous gunome (a lined half-circle pattern).  The boshi area shows irregular waviness with a slightly pointed tip.  Very faint bo-utsuri (a soft shadow shaped like a strip of wood) appears on ji-hada.  Bo-utsuri is a distinctive feature among all the Oei Bizen. 

Before the Muromachi period, many swordsmith groups operated in the Bizen region. However, by the Muromachi period, Osafune (長船) was the only remaining group.

Osafune (長船) is the name of a region, but it became the surname of swordsmiths during the Muromachi period.  Two other well-known swordsmiths from Oei Bizen are Osafune Morimitsu (盛光) and Osafune Yasumitsu (康光).  The hamon created by Morimitsu and Yasumitsu is more detailed than that of the sword in the photo above.  Chapter 21, Muromachi period swords, shows the hamon of Morimitsu and Yasumitsu and describes the typical characteristics of swords from the Muromachi period.

                                                 Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto

58 Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto

Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto Shape                                                                       

Hirazukuri ko-wakizashi tanto was a popular style during the early Muromachi period. Swordsmiths from various regions produced tantos similar to the one shown above. However, most of these types were made by Oei Bizen swordsmiths.

The characteristics of the Hirazukuri ko-wakizashi tanto ————-Typically about one foot and 1 or 2 inches long.  No yokote line, no shinogi, and no sori (meaning no curvature, straight back).  Average thickness.  Narrow width.  Gyo-no-mune (refer to Chapter 12, Middle Kamakura Period Tanto).

13 Mune drawing

Hirazukuri Ko-wakizashi tanto often shows many engravings.  Hi with soe-hi (double lines, wide and narrow side by side), Tokko-tsuki-ken, Tsume-tsuki-ken, Bonji, and more.

.

9 Hi, Suken, Bonji20 Tokko, tume Ken  58 tsumetukiken and Hi

*drawings from “Nihonto no Okite to Tokucho” by Honami Koson

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 56| Nanboku-Cho Tanto (南北朝短刀）, Uncategorized

53| Part 2 of — 19 Nanboku-cho Period Tanto (南北朝短刀)

This chapter is a detailed section of Chapter 19.  Please read Chapter 19, Nanboku-cho Period Tanto, before proceeding on to this part. 

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho

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

20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

The drawing above shows a typical shape of a Nanboku-cho-period tanto. This drawing was in Chapter 19.  I exaggerated the features of the Enbun Joji ko-wakizashi tanto to better show you.  At the end of Chapter 19, Nanboku-cho Tanto, there is a list of swordsmiths’ names from that period.  Hiromitsu (広光) and Akihiro (秋広) represent the Nanboku-cho style.

56 cropped Hiromitu photo 20 HitatsuraHiromitsu from the Sano Museum Catalogue (permission to use granted)

Enbun Joji Ko-wakizashi tanto is also called Sun-nobi tanto (>10 inches) because its length is longer than the standard size (about 10 inches) tanto.  The upper part of the tanto curves outward slightly.  This type is called sakizori.

Characteristics of Hiromitsu (広光) and Akihiro (秋広)

  • Shape———————— Usually, one foot and one to two inches long (Sun-nobi).   Wide width.  Thin blade.  Sakizori.
  • Hamon ———————- A mix of wide and narrow hamon.  The hamon around the yakidashi (just above the machi) area is narrow but gradually widens as it moves up.  The hamon around the fukura area shows most work.  Mainly nie.  Sunagashi, kinsuji, gunome, umanoha-midare (horse teeth-shaped hamon), or hitatsura appear (drawing above).                 
  • Boshi———-Irregular and unevenly tempered.  The hamon covers almost the entire boshi. Deep turn back. 
  • Jihada ———————————————————Wood-grained pattern
  • Nakago —————–Tanago-bara shape.  Refer to 19 Nanboku-cho Period Tanto.

Nobukuni (Below is my sword)

Shodai Nobukuni (the first-generation Nobukuni) was a student of Sadamune.  He was one of the Sadamune San Tetsu (貞宗三哲, Sadamune’s top three students).  Nobukuni’s characteristics resembled those of Hiromitsu and Akihiro, as described above.  Nobukuni also created sun-nobi tanto.  The sword below has a hoso-suguha, ko-mokume (small burl pattern), and ko-maru boshi (small round). 

56 Nobukuni 1 Nobukuni4

56 Nobukuni 2This is the certification of my sword.  Shodai Nobukuni (初代信國).   Juyo Token (重要刀剣)

Certification

Number: Juyo 3220, Certification Juyo-Token

Wakizashi:  Nobukuni (信国), 31.4cm long, 0.3cm curvature, hirazukuri, mitsumune (three-sided mune), sun-nobi.  The ji-hada shows a wood grain and ji-nie (surface nie, between shinogi and hamon). The hamon is a chu-suguha (medium straight). The front carving shows bonji (Sanskrit) and sanko-ken. The back engraving is bonji and hoko (pike).   Original nakago.  Examined by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai.  It is certified as a Juyo Token.  The Chairman, Moritatu Hosokawa.  Showa 45 June 1 (June 1, 1970)

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 51| Part 2 of ----- 16 The Revival of Yamato-Den, Uncategorized

49| Part 2 of — 15 The Revival of Yamato Den (大和伝復活)

This chapter is a detailed part of Chapter 15, Revival of Yamato Den.  Please read Chapter 15 before reading this section.

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

At the end of the Kamakura period, powerful temples expanded their territories in the Yamato region.  Refer to the map below for the location of the Yamato region.  Several prominent temples, especially those with large territories, held political and military power to control the area at the end of the Kamakura period.  These large territories were called shoen (荘園).  They employed many monk soldiers known as so-hei.  The demand for swords increased because of the rising number of Sohei (僧兵).  This increased demand revived the Yamato–den.  

Some prominent temples had their own swordsmiths within their territories. Todaiji Temple (東大寺) supported the Tegai (手掻) sword group.  The Senjuin (千手院) sword group lived near Senju-do (千手堂), where Senju Kannon (千手観音) is enshrined.  The Taima sword group originated from the Taima-ji Temple (当麻寺).  The Shikkake group (尻懸) and the Hosho group (保昌) were also part of the Yamato-den sword groups.  These five groups are known as Yamato Goha (the Yamato five groups).

51 Japan map Yamato

General Characteristic of Yamato Den

The Yamato-den (大和伝) sword always shows masame (柾目: straight grain-like pattern) somewhere on the ji-hada, ji-gane, or hamon.  Refer to Chapter 15, Revival of Yamato Den.   Masame is sometimes mixed with mokume (burl-like pattern) or itame (wood-grain-like pattern).  Either way, Yamato-den always shows masame somewhere.  Some swords display masame across the entire blade, while others show less.  Because of the masame, the hamon often shows sunagashi (a brush stroke-like pattern) or a double line called niju-ha.

Taima (or Taema) group (当麻)

  • Shape ———————– Middle Kamakura period style and Ikubi-kissaki style    
  • Hamon ———–Mainly medium Suguha.  Double Hamon.  Suguha mixed with Choji.  Often shows Inazuma and Kinsuji, especially Inazuma appear under the Yokote line.
  • Boshi ————————- Often Yakizume.  Refer Yakizume on 15| The Revival of Yamato Den（大和伝復活）
  • Ji-hada ——————– Small wood grain pattern and well-kneaded surface.  At the top part of the sword, the wood grain pattern becomes Masame.

Shikkake Group (尻懸)  

  • Shape —————- Late Kamakura period shape. Refer 14| Late Kamakura Period: Sword (鎌倉末太刀) 
  • Hamon ————————- Mainly Nie (we say Nie-hon’i).  Medium frayed Suguha, mixed with small irregular and Gunome (half-circle pattern).  A double-lined, brush-stroke-like Pattern may appear.  Small Inazuma and Kinsuji may also be shown.      
  • Boshi ———————— Yakizume, Hakikake (bloom trace like pattern) and Ko-maru (small round)     
  • Ji-hada ———- Small burl mixed with Masame.  The Shikkake group sometimes shows Shikkake-hada (the Ha side shows Masame, and the mune side shows burl.)

Tegai Group ( 手掻 )

  • Shape —— Early Kamakura style with thick Kasane (body).  High Shinogi.  Koshizori.
  • Hamon ————- Narrow tempered line with medium Suguha hotsure (frayed Suguha).   Mainly Nie.   Double tempered line.  Inazuma and Kinsuji may show.                                                                 
  • Boshi ————————————— Yakizume (no turn back), Kaen (flame-like).   
  • Ji-Hada ————————————————— Fine burl mixed with Masame. 

51 Kanenaga photo Yamato51 Kanenaga ilustration Yamato

Tegai Kanenaga of Yamato.  From the Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted).   The illustration (called Oshigata) shows notare (wave-like hamon) and suguha-hotsure (frayed suguha pattern) with kinsuji.

My Yamato sword： Acquired at the Annual San Francisco Swords Show.

Characteristics: Munei (shortened and without signature).  Yamato-den, Tegai-ha (Yamato school Tegai group).  Length is two shaku, two sun, eight &1/2 bu (27 1/4 inches), small kissaki and funbari. Hamon： Niju-ba, Sunagashi.  Boshi: Yakizume.  Ji-hada: Itame with masame, Nie-hon’i .                                                                                                                                     

My Yamato sword

The full view of the sword and Kantei-sho (NBTHK Certification). “Tokubetsu Hozon Token”.

My Yamato sword 5

My Yamato sword 4

My Yamato sword.jpg 2

My sword: acquired at Dai Token Ichi (大刀剣市)Bizen Osafune Tomomitsu (備前長船倫光) Length: 2 feet 4 inches,  Shape: Shinogi zukuri,  Hada:itame midare-utsuri, Hamon: konotare gunome choji