説明
Antique Japanese Sword Tachi attributed to Unju with
NBTHK
JUYO TOKEN
Certificate
【Description】
Summary
This blade is attributed to Unju (雲重), active during the early-mid Nanbokucho period (
1352-1374
: Bunna-Oan era), based on his remaining works. He belonged to Unrui (雲類) school, which flourished from the late Kamakura-mid Nanbokucho period. He lived in Ukai (宇甘) village in Bizen province (Today’s Okayama prefecture). He was known as the son of Unji (雲次), another prominent figure in this school.
The origin of Unrui school
The founder of Unrui school was Unsho (雲生). According to a legendary story, Unsho was ordered to forge a Tachi blade for the emperor Godaigo (後醍醐天皇), one of the most famous emperors in Japanese history. And, Unsho was having difficulty forging a blade that satisfied him. However, one night he dreamed about floating clouds. And he got an idea from these clouds in his dream to make Hamon, and he successfully created the blade for the emperor.
He devoted this Tachi blade to the emperor Godaigo, and the emperor was impressed by the level of Unsho’s craftsmanship, saying, “The activity of Hamon looks like real clouds.” And the emperor Godaigo ordered Unsho to use the letter 雲(Un or Kumo: Clouds in Japanese). Since then, the school was named Unrui (雲類). All the members of the Unrui school used Un(雲) in their maker’s names. Unsho was active during Kengen era (1302-: Late Kamakura period). And the father of Unjyu, Unji, was the son of Unsho.
Unrui school is also known as Ukai (宇甘) because they lived in the village in Bizen province.
It is said that the works of Unrui school resemble that of Rai school in Yamashiro province, Aoe school in Bitchu province, or Yamato Den, depending on the blades. One theory says that the members of Unrui school moved from Yamashiro (Today’s Kyoto) to Bizen Province during the late Kamakura period. Compared to other swordsmiths living in Bizen province, Unrui school was influenced by Yamashiro DEN (One of the five traditions of the Japanese sword-forging).
Jihada
It has dense Itame Hada (板目肌), and there is plenty of Ji Nie (地沸え). There is a subtle Midare Utsuri.
Hamon
Suguha with Koashi (小足), Sakaashi(逆足), Yo (葉). There is Ko Nie (小沸え) near the Habuchi area. You can see activities of Kinsuji (金筋) and Sunagashi (砂流し).
Tachi Koshirae
This blade is stored in Tachi(太刀) Koshirae. Tachi was mainly used by an armored Samurai with one hand on horseback from the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.) until the early Muromachi period. TACHI was suspended loosely on the left waist with its edge facing the ground so that you could draw it faster to cut down soldiers on the ground.
Because of its gorgeous looking, having a Tachi-style sword mounting became a social status among Samurai.
This blade is appraised as a
JUYO TOKEN
(重要刀剣) 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, exceptionally well preserved and of high quality with artistic value. JUYO is one rank higher than Tokubetsu Hozon. To be eligible for a Juyo Token, it needs to be appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token first. It is extremely rare for an antique Japanese sword to be appraised as JUYO TOKEN, and it is highly desirable among Japanese sword collectors.
【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)
:
69.2 cm (27.2 inches)
Curvature(Sori)
:
1.7 cm (0.66
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
Nakago
:
Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.
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).
All of the sword mountings of this Koshirae are decorated with the common motif: the Gosan-no-Kiri Mon (五三の桐紋). It comes from the Kiri (桐, paulownia) pattern, and the Gosan-no-Ki