Nanboku-Cho – Study of Japanese Sword

This chapter is a continued part of chapter 27| Shinto Main 7 Regions (Part A). Please read chapter 27 before reading this section.

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

Chaptern 27, Shinto Sword — Main Seven Regions (Part A ：主要７刀匠地) and Chapter 28, Shin-to Main Seven Regions (part B 主要７刀匠地)described an overview of the seven main regions. This chapter and the next chapter show the representative swords from these regions. They are Yamashiro (山城 in Kyoto), Settsu (摂津today’s Osaka), Musashi (武蔵 Edo), Satsuma (薩摩 Kyushu). But Echizen (越前) and Kaga (加賀), Hizen (肥前) are skipped. 29 Map with number 7

With the Ko-to swords, the shape, Hamon condition, Kissaki size, the length, and the shape of the Nakago, etc., indicate when the sword was forged. In Ko-to time, the Bizen swordsmiths forged the Bizen Den swords; the Yamashiro swordsmiths forged the Yamashiro Den swords, the Mino swordsmiths forged the Mino Den sword. But with the Shin-to-time swords, that is not the case. The Den and the location of a swordsmith often do not match. For Shin-to sword, we study the swordsmiths and their main seven regions and their characteristic.

Regarding the swords made in the Ko-to time, if a sword has a wide Hamon line with Nie, usually, its Ji-hada shows large wood grain or large burl grain. Also, when you see a narrow Hamon line, it usually has a fine Ji-hada.

However, with Shin-to swords, if a sword has a wide Hamon with Nie, it often has small wood grain or small burl grain pattern on Ji-hada. And if it has a narrow Hamon line, it may have a large wood grain pattern Ji-hada. That is the Shin-to characteristic.

Here is an exception; some of the early Soshu Den swords during the late Kamakura period show wide Hamon with Nie with small burls on Ji-hada. Because of that, whether it is Ko-to or Shin-to is confusing. Even so, other features like Ji-hada or other parts should indicate the Shin-to or Ko-to.

Yamashiro (山城: Kyoto)

64 Kunihiro Illustration Horikawa Kunihiro (堀川国広) From Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)

Horikawa Kunihiro (堀川国広)

Horikawa Kunihiro was considered a great master swordsmith among Shin-to swordsmiths. He forged his swords in many styles with different characteristics. Hamon types are O-notare, O-gunome, Togari-ba (pointed hamon), Chu-suguha with Hotsure (frayed look), Hiro-suguha with Sunagashi effect, Inazuma, or Kinsuji appears. Kunihiro liked to make his sword shape look like O-suriage (shortened Nanboku-Cho style long sword). Kunihiro‘s blade gives you a massive feeling. Kunihiro‘s swords often have beautiful carvings on them; designs include a dragon, Sanskrit letters, etc. Since his swords are in many different styles, there is no general characteristic on his swords other than that Hamon is mainly Nie. His Ji-hada is finely forged.

Iga-no-Kami Kinnmichi (伊賀守金道) Dewa Daijyo Kunimichi (出羽大掾国路) Both Juyo Token (重要刀剣), once my family owned, photos were taken by my father.

Iga-no-Kami Kinmichi ( 伊賀守金道)

Kinmichi family is called the Mishina group. Refer 27|Shinto Sword — Main Seven Regions (Part A 主要７刀匠地). Iga-no-Kami Kinmichi received the Japanese Imperial chrysanthemum crest.

The characteristic of Kinmichi ——- wide sword, shallow curvature, extended Kissaki, Sakizori (curvature at 1/3 top), wide tempered line, Kyo-yakidashi (refer 27|Shinto Sword — Main Seven Regions (Part A 主要７刀匠地), Hiro-suguha (wide straight Hamon), O-notare (large wavy), Yahazu-midare, Hako-midare (refer 24| Sengoku Period Tanto (戦国時代短刀). Boshi is Mishina-boshi, refer 27|Shinto Sword — Main Seven Regions (Part A 主要７刀匠地). Fine wood burl, Masame appears on Shinog-ji area.

Dewa Daijo Kunimichi (出羽大掾国路)

Dewa Daijo Kunimichi was the best student of Horikawa Kunihiro. The right photo above. Like Kunihiro, the shape of the sword looks like a shortened Nanboku-cho sword. Shallow curvature, wide-body, somewhat stretched Kissaki, and Fukura-kareru (less arch in fukura). Wide tempered line, large Gunome, Nie with Sunagashi, or Inazuma shows. Double Gunome (two Gunome side by side) appears. Fine Ji-hada.

Settu (摂津) Osaka (大阪 )

Settu (Osaka) has many well-known swordsmiths. They are Kawachi-no-Kami Kunisuke (河内守国助), Tsuda Echizen-no-Kami Sukehiro (津田越前守助広), Inoue Shinkai (井上真改), Ikkanshi Tadatsuna (一竿子忠綱), etc.

The Settsu (Osaka) sword’s main characteristic ———— The surface is beautiful and fine, almost like a solid look with no pattern or no designs surface. The below two photos are of the Settsu sword.

Ikkanshi Tadatsuna from Sano Museum Catalogue. Permission granted to use.

Ikkanshi Tadatsuna (一竿子忠綱)

Ikkanshi Tadatsuna was famous for his carvings. His father was also a well-known swordsmith, Omi-no-Kami Tadatsuna (近江守忠綱). Ikkanshi Tadatsu was the second generation of Omi-no-kami Tadatsuna. Therefore he was also known as Awataguchi Omi-no-Kami Fujiwara Tadatsuna (粟田口近江守藤原忠綱), as you see in the Nakago above photo.

The characteristics of Ikkanshi Tadatsuna —————- longer kissaki and Sakizori (curved at a higher part of the body), wide tempered line with Nie. Osaka Yakidashi (transition between the Suguha above Machi and Midare is smooth. Refer to 27|Shinto Sword — Main Seven Regions (Part A 主要７刀匠地) for Osaka Yakidashi. O-notare with Gunome, Komaru-boshi with a turn back, and very fine Ji-hada with almost no pattern on the surface.

61 Inoue Shinkai 1

Inoue Shinkai (井上真改) from “Nippon-to Art Swords of Japan” The Walter A. Compton Collection

Inoue Shinkai (井上真改)

Inoue shinkai was the second generation of Izumi-no-Kami Kunisada (和泉守国定), who was a student of Kunihiro.

The characteristic of Inoue Shinkai’s swords ——-Osaka Yakidashi, the tempered line gradually becomes wider toward the top. O-Notare and deep Nie. Very fine Ji-hada with almost no design on the surface.

Chapter 55 is the detailed part of chapter 21|Muromachi Period Sword. Please read Chapter 21 before reading this section.

57 Muromach-timeline size 22

The circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

After the Muromachi period, swords changed to Katana(刀) from Tachi (太刀), as described in chapter 21 Muromachi Period Sword. Refer to 21| Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代刀) . By the end of the Nanboku-cho period, the swords’ length became shorter to approximately 2 feet ± a few inches. The 3-to-5 feet long swords seen in the Nanboku-cho period were no longer created. The reason was that, during the Nanboku-cho period, warriors fought mostly riding horses, but after the Muromachi time, infantry fighting became more common.

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

57 Moromitsu photo (必要分　 57 Moromitus Oshigata

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

The above Osafune Moromitsu sword is 2 feet 5 inches long with medium Kissaki. The Hamon has a small wave-like pattern with continuous Gunome (a lined half-circles). The Boshi area shows irregular waviness with a slightly pointed tip. Very faint Bo-utsuri (soft shadow shaped like a strip of wood) shows on Ji-hada. Bo-utsuri is a distinctive characteristic among all of the Oei Bizen.

Before the Muromachi period, there had been many swordsmith groups in the Bizen area, but by the Muromachi time began, Osafune (長船) was the only remaining active group.

Osafune (長船) is the name of a region, but it became the last name of the swordsmiths during the Muromachi time. Two other well-known swordsmiths among the Oei Bizen were Osafune Morimitsu (盛光) and Osafune Yasumitsu (康光). The Hamon by Morimitsu and Yasumitsu shows more work than that of the sword in the photo above. Chapter 21| Muromachi Period Sword (室町時代刀) shows the Hamon by Morimitsu and Yasumitsu, also describes typical characteristics of the swords in the Muromachi period.

Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto

58 Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto

Hirazukuri Ko-Wakizashi Tanto Shape

Hirazukuri Ko-wakizashi Tanto was the trendy style during the early Muromachi time. Swordsmiths in different areas created the Tantos like the one above. But majorities of this types were made by Oei Bizen swordsmiths.

The characteristic of the Hirazukuri ko-wakizashi Tanto ——— Usually 1 foot and 1 or 2 inches long. No Yokote line, no Shinogi, and no Sori (no curvature, straight back). Average thickness. Narrow width. Gyo-no-mune (refer 12| The Middle Kamakura Period Tanto）

13 Mune drawing

Hirazukuri Ko-wakizashi Tanto often shows many engravings. Hi with Soe-hi (parallel double line, wide and narrow side by side ), Tokko-tsuki-ken, Tsume-tsuki-ken, Bonji, etc.

9 Hi, Suken, Bonji 20 Tokko, tume Ken 58 tsumetukiken and Hi