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Encyclopedia
Overview·Historical importance·Designations·Dated Works·Provenance·Blade Forms·Signatures·Lineage·School
OverviewHistorical importanceDesignationsDated WorksProvenanceBlade FormsSignaturesLineageSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Soshu
  3. Sue-Sōshū
  4. Masahiro

Sue-Soshu Masahiro

正廣

Jūyō
Vol. 17, No. 68 · Wakizashi

Sue-Soshu Masahiro

正廣

8 ranked works

Notable smith
ProvinceSagamiEraTeiji (1362–1368)PeriodMuromachiSchoolSoshu>Sue-SoshuTraditionSoshu-denGeneration1stTeacherHiromitsuToko Taikan650(top 18%)TypeSwordsmithCodeMAS201
1Jūyō Bijutsuhin
7Jūyō Tōken

Overview

Masahiro is a lineage of smiths working in Province that continued for four or five generations, traditionally transmitted as descending from the youngest son of Masamune. The first generation, styled " Masahiro," produced works bearing era names such as Joji and Meitoku, with the earliest known dated example inscribed Sadaharu 2 (1363). However, from the standpoint of chronology, it is not feasible to connect Masahiro and Masamune directly; rather, it is necessary to posit the existence of one additional intermediary figure between them. The line extended to the end of the period, and it is also said that the fourth generation changed his name to Tsunahiro; however, the distinctions among the second and third generations are not clearly established.

The Masahiro line works in a - idiom characterized by forging, sometimes mixed with , with abundant and . The favors a -based composition mixing and , enriched with well-entering and , and accompanied throughout by and . In more vigorous examples, develops into an overall -like manner, and the is bright and clear with adhering well. The typically enters in , and the manner of cutting the inscription "-ju Masahiro" closely resembles the practice seen in Akihiro, indicating the shared technical milieu of late tradition. Early-generation works frequently display construction with , broad , thin , and proportions with — the characteristic -period form — and many bear accomplished including , , -sho, and .

The consistently praises the Masahiro line as displaying the excellence of the tradition, with workmanship of both and rated as excellent and of upper-level quality. Well-preserved examples are noted as — sound in condition — and the carvings executed on the blades are repeatedly described as splendid. Works such as the recorded in Nihonto Taikan show connections with Hiromitsu and Akihiro through their -like tempering, further attesting to the line's place within the broader circle of later - masters who carried forward and sustained the legacy of the Masamune tradition through the period.

Historical importance

Where Masahiro 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 Bijutsuhin1
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken7

Elite Standing

Dated Works

Provenance

Blade Forms

Distribution across 8 ranked works

Signatures

Signature types across 8 ranked works

Currently Available

Lineage

TeacherHiromitsu
Masahiro
Student
  1. 1.Tsunahiro綱廣2 for sale12designated

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.Kiyohira清平4designated
  5. 5.Tsunaie綱家3designated
  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.Tsunahiro綱廣1 for sale2designated
  11. 11.Tsunahiro綱廣1 for sale2designated
  12. 12.Yasuharu康春1designated

Masahiro

Masahiro(正廣) was a Japanese swordsmith of the Sue-Soshu school in Sagami province, active during the Teiji (1362-1368) ND period.

The work follows the Soshu-den tradition.

Designated works by Masahiro include 7 Jūyō.