Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 63❘Part 2 of --- 27 |Overview of Shin-To (新刀）, Uncategorized

60|Part 2 of – – 26 Overview of Shin-To　(新刀概要）

Chapter 60 is a detailed part of Chapter 26, Overview of Shinto (新刀概要).  Please read Chapter 26 before reading this section.

0-timeline - size 24 edo Period

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

The difficulty of Shin-to Kantei

Regarding swords from the ko-to period, you can estimate when they were made by analyzing their style and shape.  Several factors indicate which period and which Gokaden (五ヶ伝) created the sword by examining several points, such as the appearance of the hamon or the appearance of the ji-gane.  However, swords from the shin-to period do not follow this method.     

Although there are differences among shin-to swords made during the early Edo period, around the Keicho (慶長: 1596 ~) era, the middle Edo period, that is around the Kanbun (寛文: 1661 ~) era, and the late Edo period, that is the Genroku era (元禄: 1688 ~), these differences are not much. 

The same applies to the Gokaden (五ヶ伝) during the shin-to period.  In the ko-to time, Bizen swordsmiths forged swords with Bizen characteristics.  Swords made by Yamato swordsmiths usually showed the Yamato-den features.  However, during the shin-to period, a swordsmith from one specific den sometimes forged blades in the style of another den’s features.  As a result, it is difficult to determine the maker of a particular sword. 

For shin-to, we will study the characteristics of the seven main locations, which will be discussed in the following chapters.

Picturesque Hamon

During and after the Genroku era (元禄1688 – 1704), some picturesque hamon style became trendy.  Several swordsmiths created picturesque hamon on wakizashi and short swords.  As it gained popularity, especially among foreigners, most of these swords were exported from Japan during the Meiji Restoration.  Today, very few remain in Japan.

The swordsmiths who made picturesque  Hamon 

Yamashiro (山城) area ———————————-Iga-no-kami Kinmichi (伊賀守金道),                                                                                       Omi-no-kami Hisamichi (近江守久道)

Settsu (摂津) area ———————————Tanba-no-Kami Yoshimichi  (丹波守吉道)                                                                                 Yamato-no-Kami Yoshimichi (大和守吉道)

Below are examples.  Fuji is the Mount Fuji design.  Kikusui is a chrysanthemum in the water.

63 fuji sakura hamon

　　　　　　　　Fuji                                　     Kikusui

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 31 Shin Shin-To (Bakumasu Period (1781- 1867)

30| Shin-Shin-To 1781-1867 (Bakumatsu Period Sword 新々刀）

0-timeline - size 24 BakumatsuThe red circle indicates the time we discuss in this section

The later part of the Edo period is called Bakumatsu.  See the circled area on the timeline above.  Swords made during this time are called shin shin-to.   They are also called Fukko-to (復古刀: revived sword).  Fukko-to replicates the shape, hamon, boshi, and other features of the Ko-to and Shin-to swords.  The characteristics of the Shin Shin-to (新々刀) and well-known swordsmiths are listed below.

The Characteristics of Shin Shin-to

  • Katana, wakizashi, and tanto all tend to resemble or imitate the ko-to and shin-to in shape.
  • Many swords often have a Hi or detailed engravings.
  • One swordsmith would create multiple sword styles, such as Soshu-den, Bizen-den, and Shin-to style.
  • Often shows Katai-ha.

30 katai-ha

                                                                  Katai-ha

  • Weak (not tight) Nioi.
  • Yakidashi (2 to 3 inches above machi) is often suguha(straight line hamon), even though the rest of the area has irregular    Boshi is often irregular midare.
  • Detailed engravings are more realistic than those from earlier times.

Well-known swordsmiths of Shin Shin-to

  • Settsu (Osaka area) ——————Gassan Sadayoshi (月山貞吉), Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一). The Gassan family is known for their detailed carvings.
  • Musashi no Kuni (Tokyo area) ————-Suishinshi Masahide (水心子正秀),  Minamoto Kiyomaro (源 清麿),  Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤),  Taikei Yoshitane (大慶義胤).  Yoshitane is well-known for his carvings.                                               

Minamoto Kiyomaro(源清麿)    Once my family possession

  • Tosa (四国: Shikoku area) ———————————————- Sa Yukihide (左行秀)
  • Satsuma (鹿児島: Kagoshima) ———— Oku Moptohira (奥元平) Namino Hira (波平)

Meiji Ishin-To

Right before the Meiji Restoration, long swords (about 3 feet) without any curvature were made.  Sa Yukihide (from the Tosa area) forged this type of sword.  Saigo Takamori (西郷隆盛) and Sakamoto Ryoma (坂本龍馬) owned such swords.  Both are well-known historical figures from the Meiji Restoration.  Both were part of the Kin’no-to (勤皇党) group, which supported the emperor and reformed the political system.