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DESCRIPTION |
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137.
Middle Kotô 中古刀 Katana 刀
Signature 銘: unsigned (due to shortening) 大摺上無銘
attributed to Aoe 伝 青江
Province 国: Bitchû 備中
Period 時代: late Kamakura period 鎌倉時代末期
ca. Genkô 元享 (1321 ~ 1324)
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 68.2 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 1.8 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 2.84 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 1.92 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.65 cm
thickness at tip (Sakikasane) 先重 0.43 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Shinogi-zukuri鎬造, Chû-kissaki 中切先,
Iori-mune 庵棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Mokume-hada 杢目肌 is combined with
Itame-hada 板目肌 to form the characteristic Chirimen-hada 縮緬肌.
Sumigane 墨鉄 and slight Utsuri 映り appears
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Ko-nie-deki 小沸出来 Suguha Hamon 直刃刃紋 with many
small Ashi 小足 and Kinsuji 金筋
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 20.2 cm, 2 rivet holes (Mekugi-ana) 目釘穴, 1 closed
Mountings (Koshirae) 拵: Itomaki-Tachi-Koshirae糸巻太刀拵 with silver 銀
fittings and Nashijinuri-Saya 梨地塗鞘
Comment 説明
The history of iron manufacture in the Kibi region (吉備国) is quite
old, and is home to the Bizen 備前 tradition (Osafune 長船and Fukuoka 福岡
at the Yoshii river 吉井川), and the Bitchû 備中 tradition (Aoe 青江 at the
Takanashi river 高梁川). Aoe 青江 sword smiths were active from the end
of the Heian period 平安時代 through the end of the Nambokuchô period
南北朝時代.
Aoe 青江 swords from the end of the Heian period 平安時代後期 to the middle
Kamakura period 鎌倉時代 are called Ko-Aoe 古青江, swords of the second
half of the Kamakura period 鎌倉時代後期 Chû-Aoe 中青江, and those of the
Nambokuchô period 南北朝時代 Sue-Aoe 末青江. Although geographically very
close to Bizen 備前, Aoe 青江 smiths forged their swords ion the
Yamashiro 山城 tradition.
Chû-Aoe 中青江 work shows the typical Ko-Mokume-Itame-Hada 小杢目板目肌
called Chirimen-Hada 縮緬肌 (Japanese silk crepe Hada) with Sumigane 墨鉄
(dark spots). The Hamon 刃紋 is Suguha 直刃 based, has a very tight
Nioiguchi 匂口 with Ko-Nie 小沸, and many small activities like Ashi 足. |
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138.
Middle Kotô 中古刀Katana 刀
Signature 銘: unsigned (due to shortening) 大摺上無銘
attributed to Nakajima Rai 伝 中島来
Province 国: Setssu 摂津
Period 時代: middle Nambokuchô period 南北朝時代中期
ca. Shôhei 正平 (1346 ~ 1370)
Measurements 法量: length 刃長 76.1 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 2.2 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 3.29 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 2.22 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.8 cm
thickness at tip (Sakikasane) 先重 0.6 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Shinogi-zukuri鎬造, Ô-kissaki 大切先, Iori-mune
庵棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Mokume-Itame-nagare 杢目に板目流れ
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Ko-nie-deki 小沸出来 Suguha Hamon 直刃刃紋 with
Ko-ashi 小足 and Yô 葉
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 19.6 cm, 3 rivet holes (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Engravings (Horimono) 彫物: Bô-hi 棒樋 on both sides
Mountings (Koshirae) 拵: Edo-Higo Uchigatana Koshirae 江戸肥後打刀拵 with
Shakudô fittings赤銅, an iron Tsuba鉄地鐔, and Aogai-nuri Saya 青貝塗鞘
Comment 説明
Rai Kuninaga 来國長, a student of Rai Kunitoshi 来國俊, moved from Kyôto
京都 in Yamashiro 山城 province to Nakajima 中島 in neighboring Setssu 摂津
province around Gentoku 元徳 (1329 ~ 1331). There are probably three
generations of Kuninaga 國長, and they were active from the late
Kamakura period 鎌倉時代後期 through the early Muromachi period 室町時代初期.
This group of smiths is commonly called Nakajima Rai 中島来 since their
workmanship is very similar, and even signed blades are not easily
attributable to a specific generation. However, since this sword is
made in the typical style of the middle Nambokuchô period 南北朝時代中期,
it probably is the work of the second generation (Nidai 二代) Kuninaga
國長. |
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139.
Late Kotô 末古刀 Tantô 短刀
Signature 銘: Sôshû Jû Tsunahiro 相州住綱廣
Province 国: Sagami 相模
Period 時代: late Muromachi period 室町時代末期
ca. Temmon 天文 (1532 ~ 1555)
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 29.85 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 0.6 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 2.86 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.76 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Hira-zukuri 平造, Mitsu-mune 三つ棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Itame 板目with Ô-hada大肌, Ji-nie 地沸and
Chikei 地景
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Gunome-notare 互の目湾れ with Tobiyaki 飛焼 and
Muneyaki 棟焼, forming Hitatsura皆焼; Kinsuji 金筋 and Inamzuma 稲妻
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 10.3 cm, 1 rivet hole (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Engravings (Horimono) 彫物: Naga-Bonji 長梵字 on both sides
Comment 説明
At the end of the Muromachi period 室町時代, a group of Kamakura smiths
鎌倉鍛冶 gathered in Odawara 小田原, another city in Sôshû 相州 province This
group was called the Odawara Sôshû 小田原相州, and was one of the
Sue-Sôshû 末相州 schools. Tsunahiro 綱廣, in the lineage of the most
famous of all smiths, Masamune 正宗, worked around Temmon 天文 (1532 ~
1555), and is considered the founder and the best of the Sue-Sôshû
末相州 smiths. The generally accepted school of thought is that the
Yondai Sôshû Masahiro 四代相州正廣 received the character “tsuna 綱” from
Hôjô Ujitsuna 北條氏綱, Daimyô 大名 of Odawara 小田原, and changed his name
to Tsunahiro 綱廣
This blade was polished by Honami Nisshû 本阿弥日洲, a "Jûyô Mukei
Bunkazai Hojisha" 重要無形文化財保持者 (important intangible cultural property
holder), also called Ningen Kokuhô 人間国宝 (living national treasure),
who passed away in 1996. |
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140.
Late Kotô 末古刀 Tantô 短刀
Signature 銘: Kaneuji 兼氏
Province 国: Mino 美濃
Period 時代: late Muromachi period 室町時代末期
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 28.1 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 0.2 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 2.7 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.62 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Hira-zukuri 平造, Iori-mune 庵棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Mokume Itame 杢目板目肌, Jinie 地沸, Tobiyaki飛焼
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Ko-nie-deki 小沸出来
Gunome-chôji-hako-midare互の目丁子箱乱, Sunagashi 砂流し
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 2 rivet holes (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Engravings (Horimono) 彫物: Bô-hi 棒樋 with Soe-bi 添樋 on both sides
Mountings (Koshirae) 拵: Ebizaya Koshirae 海老鞘拵
Comment 説明
There were many generations of smiths in Mino province 美濃国 who
signed "Kaneuji 兼氏" after the founder of this school moved from
Yamato 大和to Shizu 志津in Nôshû 濃州. Kaneuji swords were reputed to be
very sharp (Wazamono 業物), and in high demand by the warriors of the
warring states period (Sengoku Jidai 戦国時代). |
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141.
Kanei-Shintô 寛永新刀 Naginata 薙刀
Signature 銘: Echizen Daijô Fujiwara no Kunitsugu 越前大椽藤原國次
Province 国: Yamashiro 山城
Period 時代: early Edo period 江戸時代初期
ca. Keian 慶安 (1648 ~ 1652)
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 52.7 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 2.9 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 2.8 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.66 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Moroha-Naginata 両刃薙刀
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Itame 板目 with masame 柾目 towards the edges
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Nie-deki 沸出来 Suguha Hamon 直刃
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 48.8 cm, 2 rivet holes (Mekugi-ana) 目釘穴
Engravings (Horimono) 彫物: Naginata-hi 薙刀樋 on both sides
Comment 説明
Kyôto 京都 in Yamashiro province 山城国 was the home of the Japanese
emperors since the 8'th century. Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 and Toyotomi
Hideyoshi 豊臣秀吉 rebuilt this much embattled city after the Sengoku
period 戦国時代, and many sword smiths moved there.
Kunitsugu belongs to a school that was founded by Kunihiro 國廣 who
moved to Horikawa 堀川 in Kyôto, and is therefore called the Horikawa
school堀川門 |
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142.
Genroku-Shintô 元禄新刀 Katana 刀
Signature 銘: Hizen Kuni Jû Ômi Daijô Fujiwara no Tadayoshi
肥前國住近江大椽藤原忠吉
Province 国: Hizen 肥前
Period 時代: early Edo period 江戸時代初期
ca. Genroku元禄 (1688 ~ 1704)
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 70.6 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 2.2 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 3.15 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 2.22 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.74 cm
thickness at tip (Sakikasane) 先重 0.54 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Shinogi-zukuri鎬造, Chû-kissaki 中切先,
Iori-mune 庵棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Konuka-hada 小糠肌 with Chikei 地景
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Nie-deki 沸出来Suguha-notare直刃湾れ, Nijûba 二重刃
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 1 rivet hole (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Mountings (Koshirae) 拵: Uchigatana Koshirae 打刀拵
Comment 説明
The 4th generation Tadayoshi 四代忠吉 was born to the 3rd generation
Mutsu no Kami Tadayoshi 三代陸奥守忠吉 in 1668, and he became known as Ômi
Daijô Tadayoshi 近江大椽忠吉, working from circa 1686 until his death in
1747. He had two sons; one was born in 1696 and went on to become
the 5th Gen. Tadayoshi 五代忠吉.
The Yondai 四代 received the title Ômi Daijô 近江大椽 on 10 March 1700 and
subsequently changed his mei to “Hizen Kuni Jû Ômi Daijô Fujiwara no
Tadayoshi 肥前國住近江大椽藤原忠吉”; he also signed “Tadayoshi Saku 忠吉作” as did
the Shodai 初代 Some time after 1709 he began signing just “Ômi Daijô
Fujiwara Tadayoshi 近江大椽藤原忠吉”, perhaps copying his grandfather’s
later technique of simply signing “Ômi Daijô Fujiwara Tadahiro
近江大椽藤原忠廣” He is the only Tadayoshi 忠吉 to use "Ômi Daijô 近江大椽" in his
Tadayoshi Mei 忠吉銘.
It is rumoured that the 4th generation killed his wife and
re-married. He reportedly discovered his unfaithful wife secretly
meeting with another sword smith called Kikuhira 菊平, so he killed
them both with a sword in 1715.
The signature of this sword is Katana-mei 刀銘 which is very rare for
Hizen Tadayoshi 肥前忠吉 Katana 刀 over 2 Shaku 尺 1 Sun 寸 (63.6 cm). |
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143.
Genroku-Shintô 元禄新刀 Yari 槍
Signature 銘: Kanenori 包則
Province 国: Echizen越前
Period 時代: ca. Jôkyô 貞享 (1684 ~ 1688)
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 21.0 cm
width 幅 15.38 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 2.3 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 1.86 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Jûmonji-Yari 十文字槍
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Ko-itame Hada 小板目肌
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Nie-deki Suguha Hamon 沸出来直刃刃紋
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 31.3 cm, 2 rivet holes (Mekugi-ana) 目釘穴
Comment 説明
Kanenori belonged to the Echizen Shimosaka 越前下坂 group whose founder,
Echizen Yasutsugu 越前康継, was a favored sword smith of Shôgun 将軍
Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 |
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144.
Genroku-Shintô 元禄新刀 Wakizashi 脇指
Signature 銘: front side (Omote 表):
Hishû Karadzu Kawachi no Kami Minamoto no Motoyuki
Hyaku-Nichi Sui Seijô Kitafu Kore
肥州唐津河内守源本行百日遂清淨鍛之
back side (Ura 裏):
Shôtoku Gan Ka no To U no Toshi Chûshûjitsu
正徳元辛卯歳仲秋日
Province 国: Hizen
Period 時代: early Edo period 江戸時代初期, 1711
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 59.8 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 1.25 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 3.1 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 2.21 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.71 cm
thickness at tip (Sakikasane) 先重 0.48 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Shinogi-zukuri鎬造, Chû-kissaki 中切先,
Iori-mune 庵棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Ko-mokume Hada 小杢目肌
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Gunome-chôji-midare 互の目丁子乱 with Yô 葉 and
Tobiyaki 飛焼
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 1 rivet hole (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Comment 説明
This smith is called "Matsuba Motoyuki 松葉本行" because in his later
years he chiseled the character "Moto 本"in a way that resembles pine
needles (Matsuba 松葉).
The inscription says that Motoyuki 本行 began forging the blade after
a ritualistic cleansing of one hundread days. |
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145.
Shinshintô 新々刀 Katana 刀
Signature 銘: front side (Omote 表):
Kayo Kanabo Jû Fujiwara no Kanetoyo
加陽金府住 藤原兼豊
back side (Ura 裏):
Bunkyû Ninen Hachigatsu Kichijitsu Saku
文久二年八月吉日作
Province 国: Kaga 加賀
Period 時代: late Edo period 江戸時代後期 (Bakumatsu 幕末), 1862
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 69.95 cm
curvature (Sori) 反り 1.6 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 3.0 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 2.18 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 0.55 cm
thickness at tip (Sakikasane) 先重 0.45 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Shinogi-zukuri鎬造, Chû-kissaki 中切先,
Iori-mune 庵棟
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Ko-itame Hada 小板目肌
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Nie-deki 沸出来 Notare-gunome-midare 湾れ互の目乱
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 19.1 cm, 1 rivet hole (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Comment 説明
Kanetoyo 兼豊 was a student of Kaneshige 兼重, and his real name was
Kinoshita Jingo 木下甚吾. He received the title of Ise Daijô 伊勢大椽 in
Keiô 慶應 2 (1866). He died Meiji明治40 (1907). |
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146.
Shinshintô Yari 新々刀槍
Signature 銘: front side (Omote 表):
Enjû Nobukatsu Saku 延壽宣勝作
back side (Ura 裏):
Bunkyû San-nen Hachi-gatsu Nichi 文久三年八月日
Province 国: Higo 肥後
Period 時代: late Edo period 江戸時代後期 (Bakumatsu 幕末), 1863
Measurements 法量: Length 刃長 15.0 cm
width at base (Motohaba) 元幅 1.67 cm
width at tip (Sakihaba) 先幅 2.05 cm
thickness at base (Motokasane) 元重 1.26 cm
thickness at tip (Sakikasane) 先重 0.85 cm
Construction (Keijô) 形状: Tampo-Yari 短穂槍
Forging pattern (Kitae) 鍛: Ko-Mokume Hada 小杢目肌
Temper line (Hamon) 刃紋: Ko-Nie-deki 小沸出来 Suguha 直刃
Tang (Nakago) 茎: 36.8 cm, 1 rivet hole (Mekugi-ana 目釘穴)
Comment 説明
Nobukatsu studied with the Hosokawa school 細川門 in Edo 江戸, and worked
for the Kumamoto clan 熊本藩 in Southern Japan. |
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147.
Mid-Edo Period 江戸時代中期 Suit of Russet Lacquer Armor
The helmet (Kabuto 兜) with this suit of armor (Gusoku 具足)is a
thirty-two plate Suji-Kabuto 筋兜 The plates are differentiated with
copper edging (Yamagane-Fukurin 山金覆輪). Additionaly the visor
(Mabizashi 眉庇) and the family crest display tabs (Fukigaeshi 吹返)
have siver edging (Gin-Fukurin 銀覆輪) of a twisted rope type. Family
crests (Kamon 家紋) are displayed on the helmet's tabs (Fukigaeshi 吹返)
as well as on the hand protectors of the sleeves (Kote 籠手).
Soft doeskin trim can be found on most pieces of the armor. Inlaid
silver boar's eyes (Inome 猪目) can also be found as decorative items
on many of the armor pieces.
Although this armor has many decorative components, it was still
meant to be worn in serious battlefield confrontations and is not
like the later parade armor which was merely decorative. This suit
of armor is composed of iron plates that have been carefully
lacquered to create the effect of "russet" iron. |
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