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Overview·Historical importance·Designations·Provenance·Lineage·School
OverviewHistorical importanceDesignationsProvenanceLineageSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Soshu
  3. Sue-Sōshū
  4. Kiyohira

Sue-Soshu Kiyohira

清平

Jūyō
Vol. 24, No. 397 · Katana

Sue-Soshu Kiyohira

清平

4 ranked works

Notable smith
ProvinceSagamiEraEnpo (1673–1681)PeriodEdoSchoolSoshu>Sue-SoshuTraditionSoshu-denGeneration1stToko Taikan300(top 60%)TypeSwordsmithCodeKIY69
1Gyobutsu
3Jūyō Tōken

Overview

Kiyohira (清平), also known as Tsujimura Gorōemon, was the fourth son of the first-generation Kashu Jinroku Kanewaka. A blade dated Genroku 2 (1689) bearing the inscription "aged seventy" establishes his birth in Genna 6 (1620). He moved to around the end of the Keian era, and a blade dated Joo 2 (1653) already bears the inscription "made in Bushu ." Later retained by the Inaba family of , he signed works from 2 (1662) onward as "resident of Odawara Hachimanyama." His style is grounded in the character of workmanship inherited from his father Kanewaka and elder brother Kagehira, yet he established "an individual sphere of expression on that base."

Kiyohira's characteristically shows that overall flows and becomes -inclined -- a feature the identifies as "a characteristic of this lineage." The presents mixed with large , , and , with deep and abundant ; enter well, and and appear throughout. What distinguishes Kiyohira from typical production is the conspicuously stronger adherence of , prominent and in both and , elements tending toward pointed forms within the temper, and a bright . The typically shows shallow or with and a deep return.

The recognizes Kiyohira's finest works as "superior pieces" that are simultaneously "precious as documentary material." His of the celebrated "Fudo Kuniyuki" -- the only known such copy by his hand -- is praised for its conscious evocation of the original through a slightly narrow with and overlaying the . Gold-inlaid cutting-test inscriptions on several works further enhance their documentary significance. Kiyohira's oeuvre represents a distinctive synthesis of the tradition with an individual intensity of expression that sets him apart within the broader Kanewaka lineage.

Historical importance

Where Kiyohira stands among comparable artisans: across all of nihontō, and within tradition, era, and period. The tiers (Foremost · Leading · Major · Notable) weigh official designations from the NBTHK and Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, together with historical honors of lasting repute such as the Sansaku and Meibutsu-chō.

随一
Foremost
屈指
Leading
有数
Major
著名
Notable

Select a lens to see how it's measured.

Designations

Kokuhō—
Jūyō Bunkazai—
Jūyō Bijutsuhin—
Gyobutsu1
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken3

Elite Standing

Provenance

Currently Available

Lineage

Kiyohira
Students (2)
  1. 1.Kiyonao清直3 for sale
  2. 2.Kiyoyuki清行

Sue-Soshu School

Other artisans of the Sue-Soshu school

  1. 1.Tsunahiro綱廣2 for sale12designated
  2. 2.Fusamune總宗5designated
  3. 3.Hiromasa廣正1 for sale4designated
  4. 4.Tsunaie綱家3designated
  5. 5.Hiromasa廣正2 for sale2designated
  6. 6.Hirotsugu廣次1 for sale3designated
  7. 7.Hirotsugu廣次2 for sale2designated
  8. 8.Hirotsugu廣次1designated
  9. 9.Kunitsugu國次1designated
  10. 10.Masahiro正廣8designated
  11. 11.Tsunahiro綱廣1 for sale2designated
  12. 12.Tsunahiro綱廣1 for sale2designated

Kiyohira

Kiyohira(清平) was a Japanese swordsmith of the Sue-Soshu school in Sagami province, active during the Enpo (1673-1681) period.

The work follows the Soshu-den tradition.

Designated works by Kiyohira include 3 Jūyō.