説明

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Yasutsuna with NBTHK Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Kii Koku Yasutsuna (紀伊国康綱), who belonged to Kishu Ishido school. He was active in sword-forging during the Kanbun era (1661-1673: Early Edo period). He was an apprentice of the first-gen Bitchu no Kami Tachibana Yasuhiro. Kii koku is the name of the province located in Wakayama prefecture today. He is known as one of the most famous swordsmiths from the Kishu Ishido school during the early Edo period. There was also a record of Yasutsuna forging in Osaka. Ishido school was initially founded by Sukenaga, an offspring of Ichimonji Sukemune, who had created Fukuoka Ichimonji school in Bizen province (Today’s Okayama prefecture). During 1492-1501 (Mid Muromachi period), Sukenaga and his school moved from Bizen province to Omi province after being summoned by Gamou family, a powerful feudal line in that region. Sukenaga started to live in front of Ishido temple, and he changed his surname to Ishido. As of the early Edo period, many Ishido swordsmiths in Omi province moved to other parts of Japan. There are four major branches: Edo, Osaka, Kishu (Wakayama prefecture), and Chikuzen (Fukuoka prefecture). Omi Ishido school was the origin of whole other Ishido branches that flourished during the Edo period. Following this trend, Bitchu no Kami Tachibana Yasuhiro, the master of Yasutsuna, moved to Kishu province from Omi province. It is said that Yasuhiro was the founder of Kishu Ishido school. Yasutsuna and his master forged swords near Wakayama castle in Kishu province. Judging from the fact that Yasutsuna worked for this skilled master, his craftsmanship must also have been excellent. 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). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, well preserved and high quality with artistic value. *Please keep in mind that there is a small Kitae Kizu on the blade. If you like to see the detailed condition, please feel free to contact us. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa) : 68.5 cm (26.3 inches) Curvature (Sori) : 1.5 cm (0.59 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. Kikyou Karakusa (桔梗唐草) is engraved on this Fuchi-Kashira. Karakusa (唐草, arabesque) is a design in which vine stems, and leaves are twined and make curves. Since ivy has a strong vitality and grows without interruption, people regarded this design as a symbol of prosperity and longevity. Kikyou is a small star-shaped flower. It is said its root has medicinal efficacy. The Kikyou pattern has often been used as a motif of Tanka (短歌, a kind of traditional Japanese poem) and pictures since the Heian period (794-1185). Its name was initially “Kichikou,” and it changed to “Kikyou” with time. It is said this flower was used for fortune-telling in the old days. This action is called Kikkyou-wo Uranau (吉凶を占う) in Japanese. The word Kikkyou (吉凶, good or bad omen) was associated with this flower’s name. “Kichikou” was compared to the word “Kichi Kou (吉更),” which means further good fortune. That is why this flower pattern is treated as