The tradition of Province represents the earliest phase of the school, traditionally said to have begun with Yasutsugu around the Jōan era (1171–1175) and flourished through approximately the mid- period. Working in the districts of and Manju along the lower reaches of the Takahashi River, these smiths forged in a region long renowned for iron production, yet cultivated a distinctive aesthetic that, while sharing kinship with neighboring works, conveyed a more restrained and austere character. Representative makers of this tradition include Moritsugu, Tametsugu, Tsuguie, Tsugutada, Sadatsugu, Kanetsugu, Tsunetsugu, Toshitsugu, and Suketsugu, many sharing the character tsugu (次) as a common element in their names.
workmanship is distinguished by a characteristic forging pattern in which (wood-grain texture) stands prominently within an foundation, with the grain tending somewhat toward (standing texture), producing what is termed —a finely crinkled, crêpe-like surface. Many examples display mottled patches (, ) within the ground steel, together with very fine (ground martensite particles), delicate (pathway-like grain activity), and often a faint (irregular shadowy temper reflection). The tempering typically presents a foundation—either calm or mixed with small , , and patterns—executed in with the (temper boundary) frequently showing a (subdued) tendency. Internal activities such as abundant and (short and long projections), together with fine and (bright lines and trailing clouds), impart a deeply nuanced, richly flavored expression to the hardened edge. Blade forms are characteristically slender with pronounced taper from base to tip, high (waist-centered curvature) with (flare at the base), and (small point), preserving archaic elegance. A distinctive technical detail is the use of (large-angle diagonal) file marks on the tang, often with signatures cut on the haka- (inner-worn side)—features that help distinguish from contemporaneous work.
The legacy of resides in its cultivation of a quiet, subdued savor—what later connoisseurs termed —that stands in subtle contrast to the more vigorous aesthetic of . Though many extant examples are unsigned or greatly shortened (), the school's characteristic forging, archaic small-patterned temper rich in , and classically elegant proportions remain clearly identifiable. Works preserving (unaltered) tangs with original file marks are especially valuable as reference material for understanding early sword construction. The tradition's influence persisted as the lineage evolved through the period, with later generations gradually shifting toward -based tempering and brighter, more refined execution, yet the restrained dignity and technical mastery of the phase continue to be recognized as a distinctive achievement within the broader landscape of -period sword forging.