Tanago bara – Study of Japanese Sword

This chapter is a detailed section of Chapter 19. Please read Chapter 19, Nanboku-cho Period Tanto, before proceeding on to this part.

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho

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20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

The drawing above shows a typical shape of a Nanboku-cho-period tanto. This drawing was in Chapter 19. I exaggerated the features of the Enbun Joji ko-wakizashi tanto to better show you. At the end of Chapter 19, Nanboku-cho Tanto, there is a list of swordsmiths’ names from that period. Hiromitsu (広光) and Akihiro (秋広) represent the Nanboku-cho style.

56 cropped Hiromitu photo 20 Hitatsura Hiromitsu from the Sano Museum Catalogue (permission to use granted)

Enbun Joji Ko-wakizashi tanto is also called Sun-nobi tanto (>10 inches) because its length is longer than the standard size (about 10 inches) tanto. The upper part of the tanto curves outward slightly. This type is called sakizori.

Characteristics of Hiromitsu (広光) and Akihiro (秋広)

Shape———————— Usually, one foot and one to two inches long (Sun-nobi). Wide width. Thin blade. Sakizori.
Hamon ———————- A mix of wide and narrow hamon. The hamon around the yakidashi (just above the machi) area is narrow but gradually widens as it moves up. The hamon around the fukura area shows most work. Mainly nie. Sunagashi, kinsuji, gunome, umanoha-midare (horse teeth-shaped hamon), or hitatsura appear (drawing above).
Boshi———-Irregular and unevenly tempered. The hamon covers almost the entire boshi. Deep turn back.
Jihada ———————————————————Wood-grained pattern
Nakago —————–Tanago-bara shape. Refer to 19 Nanboku-cho Period Tanto.

Nobukuni (Below is my sword)

Shodai Nobukuni (the first-generation Nobukuni) was a student of Sadamune. He was one of the Sadamune San Tetsu (貞宗三哲, Sadamune’s top three students). Nobukuni’s characteristics resembled those of Hiromitsu and Akihiro, as described above. Nobukuni also created sun-nobi tanto. The sword below has a hoso-suguha, ko-mokume (small burl pattern), and ko-maru boshi (small round).

56 Nobukuni 1 Nobukuni4

56 Nobukuni 2 This is the certification of my sword. Shodai Nobukuni (初代信國). Juyo Token (重要刀剣)

Certification

Number: Juyo 3220, Certification Juyo-Token

Wakizashi: Nobukuni (信国), 31.4cm long, 0.3cm curvature, hirazukuri, mitsumune (three-sided mune), sun-nobi. The ji-hada shows a wood grain and ji-nie (surface nie, between shinogi and hamon). The hamon is a chu-suguha (medium straight). The front carving shows bonji (Sanskrit) and sanko-ken. The back engraving is bonji and hoko (pike). Original nakago. Examined by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai. It is certified as a Juyo Token. The Chairman, Moritatu Hosokawa. Showa 45 June 1 (June 1, 1970)

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During the Nanboku-cho period, a type of tanto called hirazukuri ko-wakizashi sun-nobi tanto was made. Hirazukuri means flat swords without the yokote line or shinogi. Ko-wakizashi refers to a shorter sword. Sun-nobi tanto means longer than a standard tanto. This type is also known as Enbun Jyoji ko-wakizashi tanto because most of these tantos were created during the Enbun and Jyoji eras of the imperial period. In Japan, a new imperial era begins when a new emperor ascends to the throne. The Enbun era spanned 1356-1361, while the Jyoji period spanned 1362-1368.

20 Enbun Jyoji Kowakizashi Tanto

Sugata (姿: shape) ————A standard tanto measure is approximately one shaku. Shaku is an old Japanese unit of measurement for length, and one shaku is roughly equal to one foot.

8.5 sun (the sun is another old Japanese measurement unit of length) is approximately ten inches. Ten inches is the standard size for a tanto, known as a josun tanto. Anything longer than a josun tanto is called a sun-nobi tanto. Anything shorter than a josun is called a sun-zumari tanto.

Most of the Nanboku-cho tantos are longer than a josun tanto, approximately one foot two inches. Therefore, they are called hirazukuri ko-wakizashi sun-nobi tanto. Saki-zori (curved outward at the top. See the illustration above). Wide in width and thin in body. Fukura kareru (no fukura means less arc). Shin-no-mune. See the drawing below.

20 Fukura 20 Shin-no-Mune

Hi, (樋: Grooves) and Horimono (彫り物: Engraving) ——- A groove or grooves on the mune side. Bonji (Sanskrit, see Chapter 16 Late Kamakura Period (Early Soshu-Den Tanto), koshi-bi (short groove), tumetuki ken, and tokko-tsuki ken (see below) appear. The ken (dagger) is curved widely and deeply in the upper part and shallower and narrower in the lower part. This is called Soshu-bori (Soshu-style carving).

20 Tokko, tume Ken

Hamon (刃: Tempered line) ——- The narrowly tempered section at the lower part gradually widens toward the top. A similar wide hamon pattern extends into the boshi area. The hamon in the kissaki area is kaeri-fukashi (deep turn back). See the illustration below. Coarse nie. O-midare (large irregular hamon pattern).

20 Hitatsura

From Sano Museum Catalogue

Ji-hada (地肌: the area between shinogi-ji and the tempered line) ——– a loose wood grain pattern called itame. Yubashiri (see Chapter 16, Late Kamakura Period) and tobiyaki (irregular patchy tempered spots) appear. Dense tobiyaki is called hitatsura (see the drawing above).

Nakago (茎: Tang) —- Short tanago-bara. Tanago-bara refers to the shape of the belly of a Japanese fish called tanago (bitterling).

20 Tanago Bara

Tanto Swordsmiths during the Nanboku-Cho Period

Soshu Den ———————————————————-Hiromitu( 広光) Akihiro (秋広) Yamashiro Den ————————————————–Hasebe Kunishige (長谷部国重) Bizen Den ——————————————————— Kanemitu (兼光) Chogi (長義 )

Soshu Hiromitsu “Nippon-To Art Sword of Japan “ The Walter A. Compton Collection

Tag: Tanago bara

53| Part 2 of — 19 Nanboku-cho Period Tanto (南北朝短刀)

19 | Nanboku-Cho Period Tanto（南北朝短刀）

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