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Overview·Designations·Provenance·Blade Forms·Signatures·School
OverviewDesignationsProvenanceBlade FormsSignaturesSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Awataguchi
  3. Kunisada

Awataguchi Kunisada

國定

Jūyō Bijutsuhin
Vol. 3, No. 294 · Tachi

Awataguchi Kunisada

國定

2 ranked works

ProvinceYamashiroEraNinji (1240–1243)PeriodKamakuraSchoolAwataguchiTraditionYamashiro-denTypeSwordsmithCodeKUN907
2Jūyō Bijutsuhin

Overview

Kunisada (国定) is traditionally identified as a disciple of Kuninobu of the Yamashiro school, and it is transmitted that around the Bun'ei era (1264–1275) he relocated to Tanba Province. His workmanship continues the tradition, and his blades at first glance possess what the describes as "the dignified quality characteristic of Kyo work." A separate line of attribution links the name to the school under the reading Kunisada, recorded in sword catalogs as a student of Kunitoshi, though the relationship between the two lineages remains a subject for further research.

In his -line , the forging shows with plentiful , and the temper is fundamentally mixed with small , into which and enter strongly. A recurring feature across these works is a feeling of nijubba — a doubled or layered effect in the hardened edge — intermingled within the temper pattern. One displays a -like intent recalling Ayakoji Sadatoshi together with a pronounced jubba tendency. Works attributed to the school line show a markedly different character: with thin and wide in proportions, well-forged with , and a of with intermixed that becomes in the upper half — characteristics described as typical of period workmanship and comparable in style to Hasebe Kunishige.

The 's assessments emphasize the continuity of school aesthetics in the attributed to this smith, noting in particular the dignified quality of Kyoto tradition forging and the distinctive nijubba character of the temper. The presence of works in the Imperial Household collection and transmission through the Tayasu Tokugawa family attests to the historical esteem in which blades bearing this name have been held. Published references include the Kozan , Kanto Zuiroku, and Kusanagi no Ya .

Designations

Kokuhō—
Jūyō Bunkazai—
Jūyō Bijutsuhin2
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken—

Elite Standing

0.00 across 2 designated works

Top 100% among smiths

Provenance

3 documented provenances across certified works by Kunisada

Provenance Standing

2 works held in elite collections across 3 documented provenances

Top 84% among smiths

Raw score: 1.83 / 10

Blade Forms

Distribution across 2 ranked works

Signatures

Signature types across 2 ranked works

Currently Available

Awataguchi School

Other artisans of the Awataguchi school

  1. 1.Yoshimitsu吉光50designated
  2. 2.Kuniyoshi國吉1 for sale51designated
  3. 3.Kunitsuna國綱18designated
  4. 4.Hisakuni久國21designated
  5. 5.Kuniyasu國安23designated
  6. 6.Norikuni則國15designated
  7. 7.Kunitomo國友4designated
  8. 8.Kunikiyo國清4designated
  9. 9.Kunimitsu國光2designated
  10. 10.Kuninobu國延1designated
  11. 11.Kunimitsu國光1designated
  12. 12.Kunitsuna國綱1designated