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.

 

Yurie Endo 遠藤由利江 2 | Time line

1 | Timeline

Let’s look at the diagram below.  At the beginning of each chapter, a timeline like the one below will be shown.  It will serve as a useful reference for determining which period is being discussed.

0-timeline - size24 original 1

From the Jomon period to the Nara period, (the short top line) is the period we call the Joko-to period in the history of Japanese swords.  The term “Japanese sword” as we use it today refers to swords made after the Heian period (平安 794-1185).  Usually, Joko-to falls under the category of archaeological study.  In the next chapter, we will discuss Joko-to.  The bottom timeline, with short descriptions below, is the one we see in Japan’s general history books.  The middle timeline is more specific to the study of swords.  My discussion will follow the middle timeline.  A timeline diagram will appear at the beginning of each chapter for easy reference.  The swords discussed in this book are grouped based on their shape, style, and the trends of their era.

The difference between Tachi (太刀),  Katana (刀),  Wakizashi (脇差), Tanto (短刀)

Swords made before the Muromachi period (before 1392) are called tachi (太刀).  Swords made after the Muromachi (室町) period are referred to as katana (刀) and wakizashi (脇差).  Katana and wakizashi were worn together.  A tanto is a short dagger.  Tantos have been made throughout history.  The difference between a tachi and a katana is how they are worn.  A tachi was suspended from the waist belt, with the blade facing down.  The katana and wakizashi (called daisho, 大小, meaning “large and small”) were worn together between the belt and the body, with the blade side up.  Usually, a tachi is longer than a katana.   A wakizashi is shorter than a katana.  The tanto is the shortest.  When facing the swordsmith’s inscribed name, if the blade is on the right, that is a tachi.  When facing the swordsmith’s inscribed name, if the blade is on the left, that indicates a katana or a wakizashi. 

           　　　　　　　Tachi   >  Katana >  Wakizashi   >  Tanto

22 tachi & Katana

Ko-to (古刀)   Shin-to (新刀)   Shinshin-to (新々刀)   Gendai-to (現代刀)

Ko-to are swords made between the Heian period (794-1192) and the beginning of the Keicho Era (1596-1614).  Shin-to are swords made between the Keicho Era (1596-1614) and the Tenmei Era (1781-1789).  Shin shin-to are swords created during the Bakumatsu period (幕末期 1781-1868).  Gendai-to covers the period from the Meiji Restoration (明治1868) to the present day.  Although the names of eras or periods changed overnight due to political or dynastic shifts throughout history, the changes in sword style were always gradual.  In general history, the Bakumatsu period is simply the last part of the Edo period. However, for sword classification, it is from around the Tenmei era (天明 1781) to the beginning of the Meiji period (1868).