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Overview·Historical importance·Designations·Provenance·Lineage·School
OverviewHistorical importanceDesignationsProvenanceLineageSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Ichimonji
  3. Fukuoka Ichimonji
  4. Sukehisa

Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukehisa

助久

Jūyō
Vol. 19, No. 181 · Ken

Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukehisa

助久

3 ranked works

Major smith
ProvinceBizenEraTenpuku (1233–1234)PeriodKamakuraSchoolIchimonji>Fukuoka IchimonjiTraditionBizen-denGeneration1stFujishiroJo-jo sakuToko Taikan1,200(top 5%)TypeSwordsmithCodeSUK141
1Jūyō Bijutsuhin
1Tokubetsu Jūyō1Jūyō Tōken

Overview

Sukehisa is transmitted in the as the son of Fukuoka Sukenobu, a smith who later relocated to in Province. His active dates are variously given as the Tenpuku era (1233–1234) or the Ryakunin era (1238–1239), firmly situating him in the mid- period. Judging from the style of his workmanship and the manner of his signature, the considers him to precede the Nagamitsu lineage, positioning Sukehisa as a transitional figure between the Fukuoka tradition and the great mainline that would follow. His early heritage — the so-called Ko- manner — is evident in that share with an old-fashioned, slender form with small , pronounced -zori, and noticeable .

Sukehisa's technical range encompasses both and , the latter form being particularly well represented among his designated works. His are rendered in ryo- with high , producing a refined and elegant form in which the tip does not flare — a the compares directly to by Nagamitsu of the province and by Kuniyoshi of Yamashiro. The forging is a well-refined, densely packed with finely adhering and occasional . The is a base, at times showing shallow tendency with slight and ; the is characteristically tight and notably clear (). In his , mixed with predominates, with entering well and appearing in the ground.

The designation records repeatedly describe Sukehisa's work as — sound and well-preserved — a condition that, combined with the quality of both and , draws consistent praise. His blades are characterized as possessing "a substantial presence and a lofty, dignified tone," and in multiple evaluations the singles out the exceedingly fine quality of the steel and temper. Sukehisa thus occupies a distinguished position within the early tradition: a bridge between the Fukuoka heritage and the school's ascendancy, whose surviving works demonstrate skilled workmanship of the highest order.

Historical importance

Where Sukehisa 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 Jūyō1
Jūyō Tōken1

Elite Standing

Provenance

Currently Available

Lineage

Sukehisa
Student
  1. 1.Sukehisa助久

Fukuoka Ichimonji School

Other artisans of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school

  1. 1.Sukezane助眞42designated
  2. 2.Yoshifusa吉房1 for sale45designated
  3. 3.Norimune則宗8designated
  4. 4.Yoshihira吉平17designated
  5. 5.Tamekiyo爲清6designated
  6. 6.Sukekane助包6designated
  7. 7.Norikane則包7designated
  8. 8.Yoshimochi吉用10designated
  9. 9.Tameto爲遠5designated
  10. 10.Yoshimune吉宗1 for sale6designated
  11. 11.Naganori長則17designated
  12. 12.Ichi一7designated

Sukehisa

Sukehisa(助久) was a Japanese swordsmith of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school in Bizen province, active during the Tenpuku (1233-1234) period.

The work follows the Bizen-den tradition.

Designated works by Sukehisa include 1 Tokubetsu Jūyō, 1 Jūyō.