Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 6| Heian Period Sword 792-1192 «part 2», Uncategorized

38|Part 2 of — 5 Heian Period Sword 794-1192 (平安太刀)

This chapter is a detailed part of  Chapter 5, Heian Period Sword.  Please read Chapter 5 before this section.  More sword terminology will be used in the upcoming chapters.  These terms were explained in Chapters 1-31.  If you encounter unfamiliar sword terms, please refer to Chapters 1 through 31.

0-timeline - size 24 Heian                   The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this sect         

During the Heian period, several swordsmith schools were active.  We use the word “den” to refer to these schools.  These include Yamashiro-den (山城伝), Yamato-den (大和伝), and Bizen-den (備前伝).  Additionally, the following regions had other active groups during the Heian period: Hoki-no-kuni (伯耆の国) and Oo-u (奥羽).   Oo-u is pronounced “Oh,” and “U” as in uber.

 Yamashiro Den (山城伝 )

During the Heian period, among Yamashiro-den swords, the most famous sword was the “Mikazuki Munechika“ (三日月宗近) by Sanjo Munechika (三条宗近).  Mikazuki means crescent.  It was named Mikazuki Munechika because the crescent-shaped uchinoke (collection of Nie) pattern appears in the hamon.  It has a graceful shape, a narrow body, koshi-zori, funbari, and a small kissaki.  The sword shows a wood grain pattern on its surface, with suguha with nie mixed with small irregular lines, and sometimes a nijyu-ha (double hamon: 二重刃) appears.  Sanjo Munechika lived in the Sanjo area of Kyoto.  His sword style was passed down through his sons and grandsons: Sanjo Yoshiie (三条吉家), Gojo Kanenaga (五条兼永), and Gojo Kuninaga (五条国永).  Gojo is also a district in Kyoto

　　　　三日月宗近    Mikazuki Munechika  東京国立博物館蔵　Tokyo National Museum 　         Photo from “Showa Dai Mei-to Zufu 昭和大名刀図譜” published by NBTHK

Houki -no-Kuni (伯耆の国)

Houki-no-kuni is the area now called Tottori Prefecture.  It is known for producing high-quality iron.  The sword, “Doujigiri Yasutsuna” (童子切安綱), made by Hoki-no-yasutsuna (伯耆の安綱), was one of the most famous swords of its time.                                                                                                 

The characteristics of Yasutsuna’s sword ——- It has a graceful shape with a small kissaki, a narrow hamon (often suguha with ko-choji), coarse nie in the hamon area, and a large wood grain pattern mixed with masame on the ji-hada.  The hamon area often shows inazuma and kinsuji.  The boshi area is yakizume, and the kaen (pronounced ka as in calf, en as in engineer) has a slight turn back. 

　　　伯耆の安綱 (Hoki no Yasutsuna)　佐野美術館図録 (Sano Musem Catalogue)                     Permission to use granted 

Bizen Den (備前伝 )

Bizen is in Okayama Prefecture today.  It is known for producing high-quality iron.  From the Heian period to the present, Bizen has been famous for its sword-making tradition.  The sword-making group in this area during the Heian period was called the Ko-bizen group.  The most famous swordsmiths in the Ko-bizen group included Bizen Tomonari (備前友成), Bizen Masatsune (備前正恒), and Bizen Kanehira (備前包平).                                                                   

Ko-bizen group’s characteristics ———- A graceful, narrow body, a small kissaki, and a narrow-tempered line with ko-choji (small irregular) with inazuma and kin-suji.  The ji-hada displays a small wood-grain pattern.

　　　Bizen Kanehira (備前包平)　Sano Museum Catalogue (佐野美術館図録)                          (Permission to use granted)

I saw Ko-bizen Sanetsune (真恒) at Mori Sensei’s house.  That was one of the kantei-to of that day.  I received a dozen*ᴵ.  The book written by Hon’ami Koson was used as our textbook.  Each time I saw a sword at Mori Sensei’s house, I recorded the date next to the swordsmith’s name in the book we used.  It was Nov. 22, 1970.  It had a narrow body line, a small kissaki (Ko-bizen komaru), kamasu*2 (no fukura), and suguha.  Kamasu is a condition in which the fukura (arc) is much less than usual.  Looking back, it is amazing that we had the opportunity to study such famous swords as our study materials.

Kantei-Kai

Kantei-kai is a study meeting.  Usually, several swords are displayed, with the nakago area covered.  Attendees try to guess the sword maker’s name and submit their answer sheets to the judge.  Below are the grades.

Atari —– If your answer is the exact correct name, you get Atari. That is the best answer.

Dozen —— The second best is a dozen.  It means nearly a correct answer. The subject sword was made by the family or clan of the right den.   A dozen is considered very good.  It indicates that the student has solid knowledge of the particular group.

Kaido Yoshi —– This means it is correct regarding the line, but not about the family.

Jidai Yoshi — it means the time or period is correct.  Each Kantei-kai has its own grading system.  Some may not have a “Jidai Yoshi” grade.

Hazure——– the wrong answer. 

Once all answer sheets are submitted, they are graded and returned. The judge reveals the correct answer and explains why.

*1 Dozen:  Almost the same as the correct answer. *2 Kamasu:  A name of a fish that has a narrow, pointed head.

 

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 10 |Middle Kamakura Period ---Bizen School, Uncategorized

9 | Middle Kamakura Period: Bizen Den (鎌倉中期備前伝)

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

Many swordsmiths worked in the Bizen (備前) school during the early Kamakura period.  However, their sword style is generally somewhat similar to the Yamashiro style.  Therefore, they are called Ko-bizen (古備前), meaning old Bizen.

The true Bizen school style appeared during the Middle Kamakura period.  Bizen Province had many advantages for producing great swords.  The area produced high-quality iron and abundant firewood.  Also, its location was conveniently located for people to travel from different regions.  As a result, many swordsmiths gathered there and produced large quantities of swords.  Due to competition among these smiths, the quality of Bizen swords is generally higher than that of other schools.  Therefore, it is often difficult to appraise Bizen swords because of the many subtle differences among the different swordsmiths.

The following three features are the most distinctive characteristics of the Bizen school.  

1.   Nioi-base tempered line.  The Nioi-base tempered line has finer dots than the Nie-base.   These dots are so small that they almost appear as a line. Technically, the tempering processes of these two are identical.  See the illustration below.                        2.   Ji-hada (surface of the body) appears soft.                                                                  3.  Reflection (utsuri) appears on the surface.

10 Nie & Nioi

Sugata (shape) —The length is approximately 33 inches ± a few inches. The blade is slightly wide and appears sturdy. The curvature of the blade is koshizori (腰反), meaning the deepest curve is at the lower part.  The body has an average thickness, and the kissaki is small.

 10 Middle Kamakura ---備前刀姿

Horimono (engraving) ——Engravings are rare.  The tip of the hi extends all the way to ko-shinogi, filling the entire area.

8 Hi

Nakago ——– Long and thin with a curve. The end of the nakago is rounded and resembles the bottom of a chestnut (kuri).  This shape is called kurijiri.   Refer to the illustration of the sword above.

Hamon (tempered area pattern)—— Nioi base. The tempered area is wide and consistent width.  The size of the midare (irregular wavy tempered pattern) is uniform.

Boshi ——– The same tempered pattern continues upward to the boshi area, and it often shows choji- midare (clove-shaped wavy pattern) or yakizume.

10 Boshi --- Bizen

Ji-hada ———— Fine and well forged.  The steel appears soft.  On the steel surface,  small and large wood-grain patterns are mixed.  Chikei (condensation of nie) and utsuri (cloud-like reflection) appear.

Bizen School Sword Smiths during Middle Kamakura Period

  • Fukuoka Ichimonji (福岡一文字) group ————-Norimune (則宗)  Sukemune (助宗) 
  • Yoshioka Ichimonji (吉岡一文字) group ——–Sukeyoshi (助吉) Sukemitsu (助光)        
  • Sho-chu Ichimonji (正中一文字) group —————Yoshiuji (吉氏)   Yoshimori (吉守)     
  • Osafune (長船) group ———–Mitsutada (光忠)  Nagamitsu (長光) Kagemitsu (景光)   
  • Hatakeda(畠田) group ————————————-Moriie (守家)  Sanemori (真守)  
  • Ugai (鵜飼) group ————————————————- Unsho (雲生) Unji (雲次)

              9 Middle Kamakura Bizen Fukuoka ichimonji 

Fukuoka Ichimonji (一文字) from “Nippon-to Art Swords of Japan”                                     The Walter A. Compton Collection

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 8 Kamakura period

7| Overview of the Kamakura Period Swords (鎌倉時代刀概要)

 
 

0-timeline - size 24 Kamakura Period

The circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

Introduction of the Five Main Sword Schools (Den)

There are five major sword schools (den): Yamashiro-den (山城), Bizen-den (備前), Soshu-den (相州), Yamato-den (大和), and Mino-den (美濃).  During the Heian period, Yamashiro-den was the main and most active school.  A school called Ko-bizen (meaning old Bizen) during the Heian period is part of the Bizen-den.  However, we treat Ko-bizen separately because its style is slightly different from the later Bizen-den, yet it is somewhat similar to Yamashiro-den, as seen later.

During the Heian period, the swordsmiths of Yamashiro-den lived around Kyoto, which was Japan’s capital at the time.  In the early Kamakura period, Yamashiro-den maintained a sword style similar to the one they had created during the Heian period.  Bizen-den emerged in the middle Kamakura period.  Soshu-den appeared in the late Kamakura period in the Kamakura area.  Mino-den appeared later during the Muromachi period, which came much later.

The Early Kamakura Period (鎌倉) (1184-1218)

We divide the Kamakura period into three stages: Early, Middle, and Late Kamakura periods. The sword style during the early Kamakura period was almost the same as in the previous Heian period.  Yamashiro-den remained the most active school throughout the early Kamakura period.

The Middle Kamakura Period (1219-1277)

During the middle Kamakura period, there were three main sword styles to discuss: the Yamashiro-den style, the Bizen-den style, and the Ikubi-kissaki (猪首切先) style, which was a new development at the time. We can say that among Ikubi-kissaki swords, it is rare to find a mediocre one.

The previous section explained how the Kamakura Bakufu (鎌倉幕府: government) held political and military power, but the emperor remained on the throne in Kyoto.  Emperor Gotoba raised an army and attacked the Kamakura government to regain political control.  This war (1221) is known as Jyokyu-no-ran (承久の乱).  The war led to a change in sword shape to a sturdier form.  This style is what we now call the Ikubi-kissaki.

The Late Kamakura Period (1278-1333  after the Mongolian Invasion)

During the late Kamakura Period, the Soshu-den emerged alongside Yamashiro-den and Bizen-den.  After the two Mongolian invasions known as the Genko (元寇) in 1274 and 1281, swords with longer, wider blades and extended kissaki began to appear.  The Soshu-den swordsmiths forged this type of sword

Engravings on a Sword     

Engravings on swords from the Ko-to era (Heian to Keicho era) serve three purposes.  One is to reduce the weight of the sword, such as hi, bohi, and gomabashi (wide, narrow, short, or long grooves), for example.  The second is for religious reasons, as swordsmiths often carved Buddhist figures.  The third is for decoration.  In the shin-to era (from Keicho time onward), engraving primarily became decorative purposes.    

 

The figures below illustrate examples of the engravings.

8 Hi, Suken, Bonji                    8 gomabashi            8 Hi

Suken                           Bonji (Sanskrit)             Gomabashi                          Hi