Yukimitsu – Study of Japanese Sword

Chapter 64 is a detailed chapter of 30｜Bakumatsu Period, Shin Shin-to. Please read chapter 30 before reading this chapter.

0-timeline - size 24 Bakumatsu

The circle Above indicates the time we discuss in this chapter.

Swords made between the Tennmei era (天明 1781) and the end of Keio era (慶應) are called Shin Shin-to. Please see the timeline above. It was the time Japan was moving toward the Meiji Restoration. It was the Bakumatsu time. During the time, sword making was active again. Below are the well-known swordsmiths in the main areas.

Musashi no Kuni (武蔵の国: Tokyo today)

Suishinshi Masahide (水心子正秀) ———- When Suishinshi Masahide made Yamashiro Den style swords, the shape was similar to one of the Ko-to time swords; Funbari, elegant shape, Chu-suguha (medium straight), Komaru-boshi, fine wood grain. When he forged the Bizen style, he made a Koshizori shape, just like a Ko-to by Bizen Osafune. Nioi with Ko-choji, and Katai-ha (Refer to 30| Bakumatsu Period Sword 新々刀). I wrote in my sword textbook that I saw Suishinshi in November 1970 and October 1971.

Taikei Naotane (大慶直胤) ————-Although Taikei Naotane was within the Suishinshi group, he was among the top swordsmiths. He had an amazing ability to forge all kinds of different styles of swords wonderfully. When he made a Bizen Den style, it looked like Nagamitsu from the Ko-to time with Nioi. Also, he did Sakasa-choji as Katayama Ichimonji had done. Katai-ha appears. My note on the textbook says that I saw Naotane in August 1971.

Minamoto no Kiyomaro (源清麿) —————— Kiyomaro desired to join the Meiji Restoration movement as a Samurai; still, his guardian realized Kiyomaro’s ability as a great swordsmith and helped him become one. It is said that because Kiyomaro had a drinking problem, he was not so eager to forge swords. At age 42, he committed Seppuku. Kiyomaro, who lived in Yotsuya (a part of Shinjuku, Tokyo, today), was called Yotsuya Masamune because he was as good as Masamune. His swords were wide width, shallow Sori, stretched Kissaki, and Fukura–kareru. Boshi has Komaru-boshi. Fine wood grain Ji-gane.

Settsu no Kuni 摂津の国 (Osaka today )

Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一) ——- Gassan was good at Soshu Den style and Bizen Den style, but he could make any kinds of style. He was as genius as Taikei Naotane. One needs to pay attention to notice a sword made by Gassan from a real Ko-to. He also had an amazing ability in carving. His hirazukuri-kowakizashi forged in Soshu Den style looks just like a Masamune or a Yukimitsu. He forged the Yamashiro Den style with Takenoko-zori with Hoso-suguha or Chu-suguha in Nie. He also forged the Yamato Den style with Masame-hada.

0-timeline - size 24 Nanboku-cho

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

After Jokyu-no-Ran (Chapter 10 Jokyu-no-Ran ), the power of the Imperial Court declined significantly. The successor, the Hojo clan with a dominant power during the Kamakura period, also began to have financial difficulty and started to lose control over the regional lords. One of the reasons was the cost incurred by the Mongol invasion. The Kamakura Bakufu (government) could not reward well to the Samurai who worked hard during the war. As a result, they were very dissatisfied with the Bakufu. Seeing this as a chance, Emperor Go-Daigo attempted to attack the Kamakura Bakufu two times but failed both times. He was exiled to Oki island. Meantime, Ashikaga Takauji (足利尊氏) and several groups of anti-Kamakura Samurai gathered arm forces and succeeded in destroying the Kamakura Bakufu (1333). This war ended the Kamakura period.

Emperor Go-daigo, who had been exiled to Oki island, returned to Kyoto and attempted political reforms. This reform was called Kenmu-no-Chuko (or Kenmu-no-Shinsei, 建武の中興). His reform, however, failed to satisfy most of the ruling class. Taking advantage of this situation, Ashikaga Takauji attacked the Imperial Court in Kyoto, deposed Emperor Go-daigo, and placed a member from the other branch of the Imperial family on the throne.

Emperor Go-daigo, however, insisted upon his legitimacy, moved to Yoshino in the South of Kyoto, and established another Imperial court. Thus began the Northern and the Southern Dynasties. With much strife between these rival courts and their problems within each court, more Samurai groups began moving to the Northern Dynasty. About 60 years later, the Southern Dynasty was compelled to accept the Northern Dynasty’s proposal. Consequently, the Northern Dynasty became the legitimate imperial court. These 60 years are called Nanboku-cho or Yoshino-cho period.

During the Nanboku-cho period, Samurai demanded larger and showy yet practical swords. Soshu Den was the height of its prominence. However, the Soshu group was not the only group that made the Soshu Den style swords. Other schools and provinces of the different areas also made Soshu Den style swords.

Late Kamakura Period Swordsmiths (Early Soshu-Den time)