Hiromitsu – Study of Japanese Sword

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 Hitatsura Hiromitsu 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 2 This 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)

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)