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Overview·Historical importance·Designations·Lineage·School
OverviewHistorical importanceDesignationsLineageSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Ichimonji
  3. Yoshioka Ichimonji
  4. Sukeyoshi

Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukeyoshi

助吉

Jūyō
Vol. 42, No. 44 · Tachi

Yoshioka Ichimonji Sukeyoshi

助吉

3 ranked works

Notable smith
ProvinceBizenEraKagen (1303–1306)PeriodKamakuraSchoolIchimonji>Yoshioka IchimonjiTraditionBizen-denFujishiroJo-jo sakuToko Taikan1,500(top 5%)TypeSwordsmithCodeSUK638
3Jūyō Tōken

Overview

The name Sukeyoshi belongs to several smiths working across the tradition, spanning from the mid- period through the era. The most celebrated bearers of this name are found within both the Fukuoka and Yoshioka lineages. The Fukuoka Sukeyoshi, active in the mid- period, is associated with the brilliant, large-patterned - that defines the school's finest era. The Yoshioka Sukeyoshi, whose signed works bear dates such as Ryakuo 2 (1339) and Sadawa 5 (1349), flourished from the late into the period as the Yoshioka branch supplanted the earlier Fukuoka group. Reference works record that he was a son of Sukekichi, and he is also identified with the longer signature "Bishu Yoshioka-ju Saemonnojo Sukeyoshi." A separate Sukeyoshi is also associated with the Senjuin school of Yamato Province, one of the oldest among the five Yamato traditions, where signed works remain exceedingly scarce. Additionally, an Sukeyoshi is known from a blade bearing the six-character signature "Bishu Sukeyoshi."

The Yoshioka Sukeyoshi's characteristic style, as the consistently observes, departs from the flamboyant brilliance of Fukuoka . Within the , stands out conspicuously, and places where the pattern inclines in reverse () or where a somewhat compact, subdued quality () enters the edge are noted as distinguishing points of appreciation. The typically shows with prominent , and the temper is -dominant with . The Fukuoka Sukeyoshi, by contrast, displays the school's celebrated large-patterned with , , and . The Senjuin Sukeyoshi exhibits flowing, piled with and an -like effect, with a richly complex interweaving , linked , , and in strongly -laden workmanship featuring , , and in the -- hallmarks of the Senjuin school.

Across these lineages, the designation records consistently emphasize the rarity and documentary value of signed Sukeyoshi works. The Senjuin example is praised as standing out among that school for its "stout, weighty, and powerfully masculine appearance" and its provenance through the Matsuura family of Hirado domain. The Yoshioka works, whether bearing the Ryakuo date inscription or the rare dated Gentoku 3 (1331), are valued both for their typicality as exemplars of the school and as precious reference material. Extant signed works of both traditions have remained scarce, and those that survive are recognized as important evidence for understanding the full breadth of the lineage across its several centuries of production.

Historical importance

Where Sukeyoshi 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—
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken3

Elite Standing

Currently Available

Lineage

Sukeyoshi
Students (2)
  1. 1.Sukemitsu助光2 for sale7designated
  2. 2.Sukeyoshi助義6designated

Yoshioka Ichimonji School

Other artisans of the Yoshioka Ichimonji school

  1. 1.Sukemitsu助光2 for sale7designated
  2. 2.Ichi一3designated
  3. 3.Norinari則成1designated
  4. 4.Sukeyuki助行1designated
  5. 5.Suketsugu助次2 for sale1designated
  6. 6.Suketsugu助次1designated
  7. 7.Sukeshige助茂2designated
  8. 8.Sukeyoshi助義6designated
  9. 9.Sukehide助秀1designated
  10. 10.Yoshiyasu吉安2designated

Sukeyoshi

Sukeyoshi(助吉) was a Japanese swordsmith of the Yoshioka Ichimonji school in Bizen province, active during the Kagen (1303-1306) period.

The work follows the Bizen-den tradition.

Designated works by Sukeyoshi include 3 Jūyō.