日本刀 刀 銘 藤原信貞 日本美術刀剣保存協会 保存刀剣鑑定書付

附属品

NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support

Category

Katana (SHINTO)

Age

Early Edo period (1624-1644)

Location

Higo province (Today’s Kumamoto prefecture)

登録証

Aomori 6278

販売店の記載のまま

This blade was signed by Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Nobusada (大和守藤原宣貞), who was especially active in Higo province (today’s Kumamoto prefecture) during the Kan-Ei era (1624-1644: Early Edo period). He is known as an offspring of the Enjyu (延寿) school members. The maker’s name, Nobusada, lasted two generations, and the first-gen created this blade because the second-gen was active during the Genroku era (1680-1709). It is said that the first-gen Nobusada also forged blades in Buzen (today’s Oita prefecture). He served Higo Hosokawa clan as an Okakaekaji. Hosokawa clan was a famous feudal lord who was the head of Kumamoto castle during the Edo period. Considering this fact, we presume Nobusada’s craftsmanship was highly acknowledged, and he must have forged blades for those who served this clan during the early Edo period. During his career, he received an honorable official title, Yamato no Kami for his excellent sword-forging techniques from the imperial court. What is Enjyu school? Enjyu (延寿) is the prestigious school’s name that flourished during the late Kamakura period-Nanbokucho period (Late 13th-Early 14th century) in Higo province (today’s Kumamoto prefecture). Enjyu school was founded by Kunimura (国村), who is said to have been the grandson of Rai Kuniyuki from Yamashiro province (today’s Kyoto prefecture). Kunimura and his apprentices moved from Yamashiro province to Higo province (today’s Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu island) after being invited by the Kikuchi clan, who had an influential power in that region. It is said that the 10th head of the Kikuchi clan, Kikuchi Takefusa (菊池武房), had to find skilled swordsmiths who could forge strong swords to combat the Mongolian army. Back then, Japan was targeted by the Mongolian emperor, and Kyushu island is where the battle was taking place twice (1274 and 1281). To prepare for the second attack from the Mongols, Kikuchi Takefusa brought Kunimura and his apprentices from Kyoto. Since then, Kunimura and his sons served as Okakaekaji for this clan, exclusively forging swords for the Kikuchi clan, which ruled the Higo province back then. All the swordsmiths from Enjyu school used the letter “国” (Kuni) for their maker’s name. The descendant of this school founded the famous sword school named Dotanuki (同田貫). And there are descendants of the Enjyu school’s swordsmiths throughout the Edo period. That means Enjyu school had over 500 years of its history. When Enju school flourished in the Nanbokucho period, Japan was tumultuous because the imperial court was split into two sides (south and north). There were many conflicts, and many Samurai were deployed. And Enju school must have dedicated themselves to forging high-quality blades for those Samurai who fought in battles. The name “Enjyu” is written as 延寿 in Japanese. If you translate the word literally, it means extending life span, which was construed as good luck among feudal lords. Therefore, the swords were presented among Samurai as good gifts. It is appraised as a Hozon Token (保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:日本美術刀剣保存協会). *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of noticeable Kitae Kizu on the blade. Fuchi-Kashira We assume the theme of this Fuchi-Kashira is Aoi (Asarum caulescens, 葵). It is a plant pattern in which each stem branches and has characteristic heart-shaped leaves. Today, the Aoi-Domoe / Mitsuba-Aoi-no Mon (葵巴/三つ葉葵の紋) is known as the family crest of Tokugawa Shogunate family led by Tokugawa Ieyasu, a famous military commander of the Warring States period. This plant pattern has also been used for the crest of the Kamo shrine in Kyoto prefecture. As mentioned above, the famous Shogunate family, the Tokugawa family, had their family crest with three leaves of Aoi due to the relationship with the Kamo shrine. As its leaves have a habit of always facing the sun, and the word “Aoi” is taken as “Aogu (仰ぐ, looking up)” for the sun, people thought the Aoi pattern would bring good fortune. Tsuka and Menuki The motif of this Menuki is the same as the Fuchi-Kashira (Aoi (Asarum caulescens, 葵). Tsuba and Habaki This Tsuba is crafted in the shape of a mokko (木瓜, “four-lobed”) form, which is derived from the stylized outline of a chrysanthemum flower (菊, kiku). Within each of the lobed sections, the openings are shaped like inome (猪目) — heart-shaped designs that have been used in Japanese art and architecture since ancient times. The inome motif, literally meaning “boar’s,” was traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits and invite good fortune, while also adding a graceful decorative touch. Saya The surface of this scabbard is sprinkled with fine glitter-like decoration. This decoration is thought to have been finished by attaching finely crushed shells to the surface of the scabbard and grinding them out. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on May 28th in the 7th year of Reiwa (2025). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.

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