日本刀 刀 銘 源正雄 NBTHK 特別保存刀剣鑑定書付

附属品

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

Category

Katana ( SHIN SHIN TO)

Age

6th year of the Ansei era (1859)

Location

Ezo province (Today’s Hokkaido prefecture)

登録証

Aichi 26233

販売店の記載のまま

Summary This blade was signed by Minamoto Masao (源正雄) in the 6th year of the Ansei era (1859: the end of the Edo period). The signature also says that this blade was made for Nishino Minamoto Suketoshi (西野源祐寿). He forged this blade in Ezochi, which is the old name of today’s Hokkaido. He used iron sand produced in the area. Masao is ranked as a top-tier swordsmith at the end of the Edo period. Masao’s birth name was Suzuki Jiro (鈴木次郎). He was born in Mino province (Today’s Gifu prefecture). He was famous for being the best apprentice of Minamoto Kiyomaro (源清麿), one of the most renowned swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. Masao was trusted by Kiyomaro so much that he sometimes did a Daisaku for Kiyomaro. Daisaku is a regular act where an apprentice or a child of the swordsmith signs his master’s name with his master’s permission or forges a blade on behalf of the master. That means that his master highly acknowledged Masao’s craftsmanship. That is also why there aren’t many remaining blades signed by Masao, who dedicated his career to helping his master. It is said that Masao became an independent swordsmith in the 6th year of the Ka-Ei era (1853). He first resided in Okachimachi, Edo (today’s Tokyo). It is worth noting the rarity of Masao’s work in Hokkaido, given his short stay there. In the 5th year of the Ansei era (1857), Masao was invited by Matsumae domain, a direct retainer of Tokugawa Shogunate located on today’s Hokkaido island. During that time, the Edo government was building Goryokaku (五稜郭), the star-shaped fortress in Hakodate city, and opening an iron factory that used iron sand from Hakodate. We assume the government needed Masao’s skills to ensure the quality of the steel Hakodate produced. He served Matsumae domain exclusively, dedicating his skills to the domain. His stay in Hokkaido was just about three years. His return to Edo after finishing his task in Hokkaido marked the end of a unique chapter in his career. Overall, his active period was only 12 years (1853-1866). The Background History Japan enjoyed a relatively peaceful time from the early Edo period to the mid-Edo period(the 1600s-1760s) because of the stable economy and the powerful government run by Tokugawa Shogun. Samurai didn’t have many opportunities to utilize his Katana sword in public or on battlefields during this time. Thus, they carried their swords more as a symbol of their social status. The demand for weapons decreased accordingly compared to the previous Warring state period called Sengoku Jidai (1467-1600). As the end of the Edo period(1764-1876) approached, the Japanese sword’s role underwent a dramatic transformation. With the spread of poverty in Japan and the ensuing civil unrest, the sword became a crucial tool in maintaining public safety, a stark contrast to its symbolic role in the earlier, more peaceful periods. The mounting pressure from foreign countries to open Japanese borders, coupled with internal strife, forced the Samurai to order swords that not only served as symbols of their status but also as practical tools for survival. Many swordsmiths, including Masao, dedicated their efforts to forging high-quality, practical blades for their masters, preparing for the battles that seemed inevitable in those tumultuous times. There was a civil war between Tokugawa’s military government and the new Meiji government at the end of the Edo period. That means the original owner of this Katana might have seen the moment when Samurai’s life changed forever. This blade has a strong looking and must have been practical to use in that demanding time. It is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token(特別保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK(Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:日本美術刀剣保存協会). Kissaki This blade has a distinctive Hada on the Kissaki. It is called Masame Hada. Masame (柾目) means straight grain in Japanese, which is often seen in the work of Hosho school. Masame Hada is the Japanese sword terminology for the Hada (steel surface pattern of the Japanese sword) that looks like straight grain when one cuts a tree in half.And it usually is combined with Itame Hada, another grain pattern that looks like wood-grain seen in the Japanese sword. Koshirae The theme of the Tsuba, Fuchi Kashira, Menuki and Kojiri is Gosan-no-Kiri (五三の桐) . The Kiri pattern generally comprises three standing straight inflorescences and three leaves. The number of blooming flowers at each inflorescence means the ranks of this design. The Gosan-no-Kiri (五三の桐) pattern is a popular design that the paulownia motif is used. According to tradition, the Houou (鳳凰, Fenghuang) rests its wings at the paulownia tree; therefore, it has come to be regarded as a holy plant. Cherry blossom is one of the seasonal things of spring, and Japanese people have appreciated this plant for a long time. A theory says that the god of grain exists in cherry blossoms. Therefore, this flower pattern has been treated as the symbol of a plentiful harvest. The Karakusa pattern 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. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on March 2nd in the 4th year of Reiwa (2022). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.