O-kissaki – Study of Japanese Sword

The circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

During the Nanboku-cho period, samurai sought large, elaborate, impressive, yet practical swords. The Soshu-den style sword from Nanboku-cho time was just that. This was the most popular style at the time. The Nanboku-cho period marked the peak and height of the Soshu-den sword. Many swordsmiths moved from other provinces to the Kamakura area and forged Soshu-den style swords. Other schools and provinces outside the Kamakura area also produced Soshu-den-style swords in their own areas.

19 Nanboku-cho Sword style

Sugata (姿: Shape) —————–The original length of a sword ranged from three to five feet, but it was later shortened to about two and a half feet. A significantly shortened blade is called o-suriage.

The Nanboku-cho style sword features shallow kyo-zori (also called torii-zori). Refer to Chapter 5, Heian Period Sword. The highest curvature occurs around the middle of the body. It has a wide body, high shinogi, narrow shinogi-ji (Chapter 3, Names of parts), and thin kasane (blade thickness), which are distinctive features of the Nanboku-cho style. High gyo-no-mune or shin-no-mune, and sometimes a maru-mune (round back).

19 Nanboku-cho 3 kinds Mune

Hi (樋: groove) and Horimono (彫刻: engraving) ——– Often, a single hi (bo-hi), double hi, suken (dagger), Bonji (Sanskrit), and/or dragon are engraved on the shinogi-ji area. Refer to Chapter 3, Names of Parts.

9 Hi, Suken, Bonji

Hamon (刃: Tempered line) —- The lower part of the body exhibits a narrow-tempered line; gradually, this line becomes wider and showier. Course nie. O-midare (large, irregular, wavy hamon), Notare-midare (wavy, irregular hamon), and Gunome-midare (a combination of repeated half-circular and irregular hamon). Inazuma and kinsuji (see Chapter 14, Late Kamakura Period Sword) sometimes appear.

*From Sano Museum Catalogue ( Permission granted).

Ji-hada (地肌: the area between the shinogi and the tempered line) ———————-Wood-grain pattern (itame 板目). Sometimes tobiyaki (patchy tempered spots) appear on ji-hada. For ji-hada, refer to Chapter 3, Names of Parts.

Kissaki (切っ先) and Boshi (tempered line at the kissaki area) ———- O-kissaki (long and large kissaki). Fukura kareru (less arc kissaki). Midare-komi (the body and boshi have a similar tempered pattern), with kaeri-fukashi (hamon deeply turns back), and sometimes hitatsura (entirely tempered). See the illustration above.

Sword-smiths during Nanboku-Cho Period Soshu Den (school)

From Soshu—————————————————Hiromitsu (広光) Akihiro (秋広) 　
From Yamashiro ———————————————Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重)
From Bizen (called So-den Bizen)——-Chogi (長儀 )group Kanemitsu (兼光 ) group
From Chikuzen ———————————————————-Samoji (左文字 ) group

Chogi (長義）from The Sano Museum catalog. Permission to use is granted

The distinctive characteristics of the Nanboku-Cho period sword in the photo above

The trace of an engraving of suken on the inside of the nakago indicates that this area was once a part of the main body.
Large and long kissaki

The circle indicates the time we discuss in this chapter.

Through the experience of the Jokyu-no-ran war (Chapter 10), the design of the swords shifted to a wider, sturdier, and more impressive style. The swords made around this time are called “ikubi-kissaki. “ Ikubi means a wild boar’s neck. The kissaki area of ikubi-kissaki-style swords resembles a boar’s neck, with a somewhat stout appearance.

The middle Kamakura period was the golden age of Japanese sword-making. Many top swordsmiths created exceptional swords during this time. Experts agree that there are no mediocre swords among Ikubi-kissaki swords.

IkubiKissakiSword 12 Ikubi Kissaki sword style

SUGATA (shape) —————— Originally 3 feet or longer, these blades were often shortened in later years. Wide width. Thick kasane (thick body) with hamaguri-ha, meaning the sword’s cross-section is shaped like a clam. The difference in width between the near yokote line and the machi is minimal. The shinogi is high and narrow. The cross-section of an Ikubi-kissaki sword is shown below.

12　蛤刃と鎬

KISSAKI ————- Ikubi-kissaki. Ikubi means the neck of a wild boar. It is thick, short, and stout in appearance. Kissaki is short and wide at the yokote line. The illustration below shows an exaggerated image of an Ikubi-kissaki.

12 Ikubi Kissak drawing

Hamon (刃文) —— Kawazuko-choji (tadpole-head shape pattern). O-choji (large clove-shape pattern), ko-choji (small clove-shape), a mixture of o-choji and ko-choji, or suguha-choji. Suguha-choji features a straight line combined with a choji (clove-shape) pattern.

12 Hamon Kawazuko-choji O-choji Ko-choji Suguha-choji (tadpole head) (large clove) (small clove) (straight and clove)

Boshi (鋩子) ——Yakizume: the hamon ends almost at the tip of the kissaki, with no return. Sansaku Boshi: the hamon narrows at the yokote line, created by Nagamitsu (長光), Kagemitsu (景光), and Sanenaga (真長). See below for Yakizume and Sansaku Boshi.

12 Yakizume

Yakizume 11 Sansaku Boshi（三作 Sansaku-boshi

Ikubi Kissaki Sword Smiths

Fukuoka Ichimonji Group (福岡一文字) —————Fukuoka Ichimonji Norimune (則宗) Kamakura Ichimonji Group(鎌倉一文字) ———— Kamakura Ichimonji Sukezane (助真) Soshu Bizen Kunimune Group(相州備前国宗)——– Soshu Bizen Kunimune (国宗)Bizen Osafune Group(長船)——————Bizen Osafune Mitutada(長船光忠) Nagamitsu(長光) Ugai Group————————————————————————- Ugai Unji (鵜飼雲次)

Osafune Nagamitsu(長船長光) From Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)