Samoji – Study of Japanese Sword

This chapter is a detailed part of Chapter 7, an overview of the Kamakura Period Swords. Please read Chapter 7, Overview of the Kamakura Period Swords, before reading this section.

0-timeline - size 24 Kamakura Period

The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section.

The Kamakura period was a golden age of sword-making. About half of the well-known swords today were produced during this time. This is probably because the war between the Genji and the Heishi demanded many swords, and swordsmiths improved their skills through wartime experience. Also, Emperor Gotoba (後鳥羽) invited many talented swordsmiths to his palace, treated them favorably, and encouraged them to create excellent swords by granting them high ranks. During the Kamakura period, sword-making techniques greatly improved.

Middle Kamakura Period —- Yamashiro-den (山城伝)

The middle Kamakura period was the height of the Yamashiro-den. Within the Yamashiro-den, there were three main groups: the Ayanokoji group (綾小路), Awataguchi group (粟田口), and Rai group (来). Among the Awataguchi group, six swordsmiths received the honor of “Goban-kaji ” from Emperor Gotoba (後鳥羽上皇). Awataguchi is the name of an area in Kyoto.

The Ayanokoji ( 綾小路 ) group lived in the Ayanokoji area of Kyoto. My sword textbook had a note indicating that I had seen Ayanokoji Sadatoshi (綾小路定利) on March 22^, 1972. My note was brief, only a few words: o-suriage, funbari, narrow–body, and ji-nie.

The Rai group originated from Rai Kuniyuki (来国行 ). Rai Kuniyuki and Ayanokoji Sadatoshi were believed to have been close friends. Rai Kuniyuki created many well-known swords. His famous Fudo Kuniyuki (不動国行) was once owned by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru (足利義輝 ), then passed to Matsunaga Danjo (松永弾正), then to Oda Nobunaga ( 織田信長 ), then to Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀 ), and eventually to Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉). All of them were historically famous and influential daimyo. It is said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi held this sword during the memorial service for Oda Nobunaga. Rai Kuniyuki’s son was Niji Kunitoshi. He also forged well-known swords.

Middle Kamakura Period —– Bizen-den (備前伝)

The Bizen-den during the Heian period was called Ko-bizen. They are similar to those in the Yamashiro-den style. The true height of the Bizen-den was during the middle Kamakura period. The Bizen area (today’s Okayama Prefecture) had many ideal conditions for sword-making: a good climate, abundant iron resources, plenty of wood for fuel, and a convenient location. Naturally, many swordsmiths moved there, and it became a major center for sword production.

The Bizen region produced many swords of higher quality and superior to those of other sword groups and more famous swordsmiths. Fukuoka Ichimonji Norimune (則宗) and his son Sukemune (助宗 ) received the honor of the Goban-kaji from Emperor Gotoba. Among the Osafune group (長船), the famous Mitsutada (光忠) and Nagamitsu (長光) appeared. My father owned four Mitsutada blades. Three tachis and one tanto. He was so proud of owning four Mitsutada blades that he asked his tailor to monogram Mitsutada on the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

From the Hatakeda group (畠田), Hatakeda Moriie (畠田守家), and from the Ugai (鵜飼) group, Unsho (雲生 ) and Unji (雲次) appeared. The famous Kunimune (国宗) also emerged around this time. Since many swordsmiths worked in the Bizen-den, many Bizen swords exist today. Each swordsmith displayed his own characteristics in the swords. Therefore, doing the kantei of Bizen swords can be quite complex.

The classification of the sword ranking from the top

Kokuho (国宝: National Treasure)
Jyuyo Bunkazai (重要文化財: Important Cultural Property)
Jyuyo Bijutsu Hin (重要美術品: Important Artwork)
Juyo Token (重要刀剣: Important Sword) more to follow

Here are my father’s four Bizen Osafune Mitsutada swords. He took these pictures many years ago at home. It is clear that he was not much of a photographer. On a rectangular sheet of white paper, he wrote the name of the swordsmith, the period when the sword was made, the name(s) of the daimyo who owned it in the past, and its classification.

Osafune Mitsutada (Juyo Bukazai) Osafune Mitsutada (Juyo Bunakzai)

Osafune Mitsutada (Juyo Token) Osafune Mitsutada(Juyo Bunkazai)

Late Kamakura Period —– Soshu Den (相州伝 )

Yamashiro-den began to decline in the latter part of the Kamakura period. At this time, many swordsmiths moved to the Kamakura area under the new power of the Kamakura bakufu (鎌倉幕府), led by the Hojo clan. The new group, Soshu-den (相州伝 ), began to emerge. Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane (福岡一文字助真) and Kunimune (国宗) from Bizen moved to Kamakura. Toroku Sakon Kunitsuna (藤六左近国綱) from the Awataguchi group of Yamashiro-den also moved to Kamakura. These three are considered the founders of the Soshu-den in Kamakura. Kunitsuna‘s son was Tosaburo Yukimitsu, and his grandson was the famous Masamune (正宗). Outside Kamakura, Yamashiro Rai Kunitsugu (来国次), Go-no-Yoshihiro (郷義弘) from the Ettchu (越中) province, and Samoji (左文字) from Chikuzen Province (筑前) were active swordsmiths.

0-timeline - size 24 Late Kamakura

The red circle above indicates the time we discuss in this section

The beginning of the Soshu style

A new sword style called Soshu-den appeared after the Mongolian invasion during the later part of the Kamakura period. The Kamakura region became prosperous under the rule of the Hojo family (北条). Many swordsmiths moved to Kamakura. These included the Kunitsuna group (国綱) from the Yamashiro area and Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane (福岡一文字助真) and Kunimune (国宗) from the Bizen area. They are the originators of Soshu-den (相州伝). A well-known swordsmith, Goro-Nyudo-Masamune (五郎入道正宗), emerged during this time.

15 Soshu sword with explanation

Sugata (Shape 姿) ——- O–kissaki (large kissaki: 大切先) and chu-kissaki (medium kissaki: 中切先). The tip of the hi ends lower (see the illustration below). Hamaguri– ha is no longer in style. The body has become thinner. The original length was approximately three feet or longer, but most were later shortened to two feet, three inches, or four inches. The shortened sword is called o-suriage (大磨上).

15 Kissak shape of 4

14 Hi end lower

Hamon——————–Ｎarrow Hamon and wide Hamon.

Narrow Hamon ——- A mix of Suguha (straight), Ko-choji (small clove-like pattern), and Ko-gunome (small half-circle pattern). Small Nie base. (shown below)

10 Nie & Nioi

Wide Hamon ——– Notare midare (wavy). O-gunome. Nie base. Ashi-iri (short line toward the blade, the right drawing below). Inazuma (lightning-like line) or kinsuji (bright line) may appear on a tempered line. However, inazuma and kinsuji require trained eyes to detect. It is difficult for beginners to see inazuma or kinsuji.

15 Late Kamakura Soshu Hamon

Boshi————The main body and boshi have the same type of hamon. At the tip of the kissaki, angle it back slightly or yakizume. You might also see o-maru (large round), ko-maru (small round), kaen (flame-like), or nie-kuzure. Yakizume and kaen (Chapter 12).

15 three boshi name

Ji-hada (between the shinogi and the tempered line) ——-Strong ji-nie (地沸), which are sand-like small dots appearing on the ji (between the tempered line and the mune). Yubashiri (a cluster of ji-nie), kinsuji (a bright, radiant line formed by nie), inazuma (a lightning-like irregular line), or chikei (similar to kinsuji) may appear on the ji-hada.

15 Yubashiri, Chikei, Inazuma

Late Kamakura Period Soshu School Sword Smiths

From Bizen————–Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane (福岡一文字助真) Kunimune (国宗 ) From Yamashiro ————————————–Toroku- Sakon- Kunituna (藤六左近国綱)

The three swordsmiths mentioned above originated the Soshu-den (school) in Kamakura. Later, Tosaburo Yukimitu and his son, the famous Goro Nyudo Masamune, emerged.

More Soshu Den swordsmiths other than above

From Yamashiro (山城)———- Rai Kunitsugu (来国次), Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重) From Etchu (越中) province ———————Gou- no-Yoshihiro (郷義弘) Norishige (則重) From Mino (美濃) province ——————————————-Kaneuji (兼氏) Kinjyu (金重) From Chikuzen (筑前) province —————————————————-Samoji (左文字)