Suriage – Study of Japanese Sword

0-timeline - size 24 Muromach

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

The Muromachi period was a relatively peaceful and prosperous time until shortly before the “Onin-no-ran,” which occurred at the end of the Muromachi period. Refer to Chapter 20, Muromachi Period History (室町時代歴史). The Nanboku-cho style long swords became outdated; as a result, they were shortened. The shortened blade is called suriage. Overall, the Muromachi period was a declining time for sword-making.

Tachi and Katana

Until the end of the Nanboku-cho period or the beginning of the Muromachi period, samurai wore swords suspended from their waists with the blade facing down. When a sword was worn this way, the swordsmith inscribed his name on the side facing outward, meaning the blade is on your right when you see the inscription. In this case, the sword is called a tachi.

During the Muromachi period, a sword was worn between the belt, with the blade facing up. The swordsmith inscribed his name so that it faced outward when it was worn. Therefore, when you see the inscription, the cutting edge is to your left. This is classified as a katana.

Around the beginning of the Muromachi period, samurai started to wear a pair of swords called dai-sho (大小), meaning large and small. The longer sword is a katana, and the shorter one is a wakizashi. In general, a tachi is longer than a katana. A katana is longer than a wakizashi, and a wakizashi is longer than a tanto. Here is the order of their lengths.

Tachi > Katana > Wakizashi > Tanto Tachi and katana differ in how they are worn, not in length.

O-suriage ( 大磨上: Katana shortened by great length)　

How much the sword should be shortened depends on its original length and how much the owner wants it shortened. O-suriage is a type of sword that is significantly shortened. Once the blade is shortened by that length, the inscription of the maker’s name is cut off. When the Hon’ami family (本阿弥家, a family of sword connoisseurs who have appraised Japanese swords for generations from the Muromachi period to today) appraises such a suriage sword, they write the make of the sword and the swordsmith’s name on the front side of the hilt, and the connoisseur’s name with his kaou (similar to a signature) on the back. There are several levels of writing. The level at which it should be done depends on the sword’s quality and the owner’s preference. Below is the order of levels (high to low).

Shu-Mei (朱明 )————————————————————-name written in Vermilion Kinpun-Mei (金粉名 )———————————————–name lacquered in gold powder Gin-Zougan (銀象嵌 )————————————————————name inlaid in silver Kin-Zougan (金象嵌 )————————————————————-name inlaid in gold

Sugata (姿: Shape) ——— The average length is typically two feet three to four inches (68~71cm). The shape of the Muromachi period katana is somewhat similar to that of the Heian period tachi. However, Muromachi katana are less grand or graceful than those from the Heian period swords. The curvature is usually of the koshizori style. Koshizori refers to the highest curvature being near the lower part of the blade. The length and shape are suitable for wearing between the body and the belt. The width and thickness are well-balanced with the size of the sword. Small kissaki.

22 Muromachi sword shape

Hirazukuri-Wakizashi ———– Hirazukuri refers to a flat surface without a shinogi or yokote line. Usually, it is 1 foot and 1 to 2 inches long. No curvature. Hirazukuri-wakizashi appeared during the Muromachi period.

Hamon (刃文: tempered line) ———————- Nioi base. The tempered area is well balanced with the blade’s width. Koshi-hiraita-midare is mixed with choji-midare.

22Hamon (Koshi Hiraita midare) — from Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted)

Boshi (Tempered line at Kissaki area) ————– Midare-komi, a short turn back. See the above illustration. Midare is an irregular wave-like pattern.
Ji-hada (地肌: An area between the tempered line and Shinogi)- Soft look, a large wood grain pattern, Ji-utsuri (faint smoke or cloud-like effect) shows.
Horimono (彫物：Engravings) ———- Bo-hi (single groove), Soe-hi (a thin groove alongside the main hi), Futasuji-hi (double narrow groove), Sanskrit, Tokko-tsuki ken, Tsume-tsuki Ken, name of God, and dragon. Carvings became elaborate.

8 Hi, Suken, Bonji 21 Tsume-tuki-ken tokko with caption

Sword Smiths during Muromachi Period

Bizen Den ——–Osafune Morimitsu (長船盛光), Yasumitsu (康光), Moromitsu (師光)
Yamashiro Den————————————————-Yamashiro Nobukuni (山城信国)

21 Muromachi sword from Sano

Ise Masashige (伊勢正重), Bizen Osafune Naomitsu (備前長船尚光) Juyo Token(重要刀剣) Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted) once my family sword

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)