Hirazukuri-kowakizashi-sunnnobi Tanto – 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) ————— Chukan-zori Tanto has 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 —————- Standard Tanto length should be no longer than one Shaku*¹ (approx. 12 inches, 30.5cm). The standard size Tanto is called Jo-sun Tanto, which is 8.5 Shaku (approx. 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 Japanese old measurement unit for length.

Takenoko-zori Jo-sun Tanto (筍反定寸短刀) ———– Takenoko-zori Jo-sun Tanto was made during the Sengoku period. It resembles the 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) shows somewhere on the blade. Masame–hada (Straight grain pattern) may appear on the Mune side.

13 Middle Kamakura Period Tanto 24 Suguha katai-ha

Ji-hada (地肌: Area between shinogi and tempered line)————- Some Shirake (白け: a whitish surface) sometimes appears. Some Utsuri (a light, whitish, cloud-like effect) on Ji-hada appears.

Sun-nobi Tanto (寸延短刀)–————–This type of Tanto is similar to the Sakizori Tanto of the late Soshu Den time. You may see Hitatsura type Hamon. (Illustration below). Unlike the Soshu Den style, the Hitatsura shows more on the lower part and less on the upper part of the Tanto.

25 Sun-Nobi Tanto 25 Hitatsura

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

This is a unique Tanto in the Sengoku period. Hirazukuri means a flat surface sword without Shinogi, Yokote line, or obvious Kissaki. Takenoko-zori means bamboo shoot shape (back of the sword curves inward). Sun-zumari means shorter than 10 inches long (shorter than 8.5 Shaku, or 25.7 cm). The lower part of the blade is wide and thick, and the tip is narrow and thin. It has a piercing sharp look.

Horimono(彫物: Engraving) ——-Deeply carved Ken-maki Ryu (a dragon wrapped around a spear).
Hamon (刃文: Tempered line)———Wide tempered line, Nioi base. Irregular Hamon, wide Suguha (straight), and Chu-suguha (medium straight). The Hamon in the Boshi area turns back long.
Ji-hada (地肌)———–fine and wood burl pattern.

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

Double-edged sword with a Hamon on both cutting edges. Often Bonji (Sanscrit) 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). Hamon turns back deeply.
Ji-hada (地肌：Area between shinogi and tempered line)——- Fine and wood burl pattern.

25-moroha-tanto1 Moroha Tanto

The Swordsmith for Tanto during the Sengoku Period

The Bizen swords during the Sengoku period are called Sue-bizen. Sue is pronounced “su” and “e“ as egg. Bizen Osafune Yoso Zaemon Sukesada (与三左衛門祐定) is the most regarded swordsmith during the Sengoku period. He also forged Tantos. One thing to point out is that there were many swordsmiths called Sukesada. Yoso-Zaemon Sukesada is, however, the one who represents the era.

The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

During the Nanboku-cho period, a type of Tanto called Hirazukuri Ko-wakizashi Sun-nobi Tanto was made. Hirazukuri means a flat sword without the Yokote line and Shinogi. Ko-wakizashi means a shorter sword. Sun-nobi Tanto means longer than standard Tanto. This is also called Enbun Jyoji Ko-wakizashi Tanto. It is called this way because majority of this type of Tanto were forged around Enbun and Jyoji imperial era. In Japan, a new imperial period starts when a new emperor ascends to the throne. The Enbun era was from 1356 to 1361, and the Jyoji period was from 1362 to 1368.

20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

Sugata (姿: shape) ——- The length of a standard size Tanto is approx. one Shaku. Shaku is an old Japanese measurement unit for length and, one Shaku is very close to 1 foot.

8.5 Sun (the Sun is another old Japanese measurement unit for length) is approximately 10 inches. Ten inches is the standard size Tanto called Josun Tanto. Anything longer than Josun Tanto is called Sun-nobi Tanto. Anything shorter than Josun is called Sun-zumari Tanto.

Most of the Nanboku-cho tantos are longer than Josun Tanto, approximately 1 foot 2 inches long. Therefore they are called Hirazukuri Ko-wakizashi Sun-nobi Tanto.

Saki-zori (curved outward at the top. See the illustration above). Wide width and thin 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 (Sanscrit, described in Chapter 16 Late Kamakura Period (Early Soshu-Den Tanto 鎌倉末短刀, Koshi-bi (Short groove), Tumetuki Ken, Tokko-tsuki Ken (see below) appear. 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 stule carving).

20 Tokko, tume Ken

Hamon (刃: Tempered line) —– The narrowly tempered at the lower part gradually becomes wider toward the top. Then a similar wide Hamon goes into the Boshi area. Hamon in the Kissaki area is Kaeri-fukashi (turn back deep). See the illustration below. Coarse Nie. O-midare (large irregular Hamon pattern).

20 Hitatsura

From Sano Museum Catalogue

Ji-hada (地肌: Area between shinogi-ji and tempered line)——— Loose wood grain pattern called Itame. Yubashiri (refer Chapter 16| Late Kamakura period: Early Soshu-Den Tanto (鎌倉末短刀)), Tobiyaki (Irregular patchy tempered spot) appear. Crowded (or busy) Tobiyaki is called Hitatsura (drawing above).

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

20 Tanago Bara

Tanto Sword-smiths during 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 )

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

Tag: Hirazukuri-kowakizashi-sunnnobi Tanto

24| Sengoku Period Tanto (戦国時代短刀)

19 | Nanboku-Cho Period Tanto（南北朝短刀）

The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section