Antique Japanese Sword Tsurugi Attributed to Yamato Koken with NBTHK Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Summary This blade is unsigned and attributed to Yamato Koken (大和古剣). A sword called Ken or Tsurugi (剣) is a type of weapon with a double-edged and straight sword blade. It is distinguished from a single-edged sword called Katana. Yamato Koken is a general term for unsigned swords made before the Nanbokucho period (the 14th century) regardless of the region where they were forged. This is because swords at that time were generally made in the Yamato style, not only by swordsmiths in Yamato province (today’s Nara prefecture), known for YAMATO-DEN, but also by swordsmiths from other countries. In Yamato province, during the Heian period (794-1185), a group of monks who participated in direct petitions and political disputes to protect Buddhism became a powerful force. The Yamato Kaji, swordsmiths belonging to the great temples such as Todaiji and Kofukuji, forged blades to meet the demands of the monks. Also, it is said that swords were respected as a Buddhist tool to take refuge to Fudo Myo-O (不動明王, acalanātha), the god deeply worshiped by Samurai warriors. This blade is appraised as a Hozon Touken (保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai: 日本美術刀剣保存協会). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are a few visisble Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa) : 25.1 cm (9.88 inches) Curvature (Sori) : 0 cm (0 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process. Jimon (Jihada) : Visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process. Kissaki : Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword. Nakago : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged. Koshirae : Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Scabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt. The Unryu (雲竜) theme is depicted on this Fuchi Kashira. This design is a combination of dragons and clouds. Clouds bring blessed rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the day’s weather. Due to its supernatural power, a theory says that gods, spirits, and dragons dwell in the clouds. In Japan, there is a belief that dragons are worshipped as water gods. Since rice cultivation has flourished in this country, people always treat water as an essential resource. We imagine some people wished for a plentiful harvest in this combination. From such a religious aspect, we could infer that dragon designs were familiar to people. Initially, dragons were imaginary creatures found in ancient foreign traditions and myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, the belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, a mythical animal in Japan that looks like a snake and has a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers and ears are cows. A dragon was thought to reign at the top of all animals because of its odd appearance. Based on our experiences, there are lots of dragon-designed sword mountings. It shows that many Samurai warriors favored this dignified beast motif. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. This handle has a dragon wrapped around

Antique Japanese Sword Tsurugi Attributed to Yamato Koken with NBTHK Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Summary This blade is unsigned and attributed to Yamato Koken (大和古剣). A sword called Ken or Tsurugi (剣) is a type of weapon with a double-edged and straight sword blade. It is distinguished from a single-edged sword called Katana. Yamato Koken is a general term for unsigned swords made before the Nanbokucho period (the 14th century) regardless of the region where they were forged. This is because swords at that time were generally made in the Yamato style, not only by swordsmiths in Yamato province (today’s Nara prefecture), known for YAMATO-DEN, but also by swordsmiths from other countries. In Yamato province, during the Heian period (794-1185), a group of monks who participated in direct petitions and political disputes to protect Buddhism became a powerful force. The Yamato Kaji, swordsmiths belonging to the great temples such as Todaiji and Kofukuji, forged blades to meet the demands of the monks. Also, it is said that swords were respected as a Buddhist tool to take refuge to Fudo Myo-O (不動明王, acalanātha), the god deeply worshiped by Samurai warriors. This blade is appraised as a Hozon Touken (保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai: 日本美術刀剣保存協会). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there are a few visisble Kitae Kizu on this blade. If you like to know the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa) : 25.1 cm (9.88 inches) Curvature (Sori) : 0 cm (0 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process. Jimon (Jihada) : Visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process. Kissaki : Kissaki is the tip of the Japanese sword. Nakago : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged. Koshirae : Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya (Scabbard), Tsuka (Handle), Tsuba (Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt. The Unryu (雲竜) theme is depicted on this Fuchi Kashira. This design is a combination of dragons and clouds. Clouds bring blessed rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the day’s weather. Due to its supernatural power, a theory says that gods, spirits, and dragons dwell in the clouds. In Japan, there is a belief that dragons are worshipped as water gods. Since rice cultivation has flourished in this country, people always treat water as an essential resource. We imagine some people wished for a plentiful harvest in this combination. From such a religious aspect, we could infer that dragon designs were familiar to people. Initially, dragons were imaginary creatures found in ancient foreign traditions and myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, the belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, a mythical animal in Japan that looks like a snake and has a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers and ears are cows. A dragon was thought to reign at the top of all animals because of its odd appearance. Based on our experiences, there are lots of dragon-designed sword mountings. It shows that many Samurai warriors favored this dignified beast motif. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. This handle has a dragon wrapped around