説明
Antique Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Mihara with NBTHK
Hozon
Certificate
【Description】
Summary
This blade is attributed to Mihara, a prestigious school in Bingo province (today’s Hiroshima prefecture). According to recent studies, it is general knowledge that Mihara school was founded by Kokubunji Sukekuni (国分寺助国) in the late Kamakura period (Late13th century-Early 14th century). Two of the most prominent figures in this school are Mihara Masaie (三原正家) and his son, Masahiro (正広).
Mihara school is divided into three categories in Japanese sword terminology depending on the period. When the blade is older than the Nanbokucho era (the 1300s), it is called Ko-Mihara (Old Mihara). And it is called Mihara for those who forged in the early-Mid Muromachi period. Finally, Sue-Mihara (Late Mihara) is used for the late Muromachi period. Based on the NBTHK appraisal of this blade, it was approximately forged during the late early-mid Muromachi period (Late 14th- Early 15th century).
In Bingo province, many lands were owned by politically powerful temples of the Yamato region (today’s Nara prefecture) from ancient times. And many Samurai formed military groups to protect those lands, being hired by temples. And quite a few swordsmiths moved from the Yamato region to the Bingo region to forge blades for those Samurai.
It is said that the swordsmiths in Yamato region strongly influenced how swords were forged in the Bingo province because of the history above. The blades forged by Mihara school had distinctive characteristics of Yamato DEN, one of the five Japanese sword traditions (Gokaden).
Bingo is located near the Chugoku Mountains, where iron sands, one of the essential materials for making Japanese swords, were abundant. This geological location contributed to the Mihara swordsmiths forging high-quality refined blades. We presume Bingo was quite active in sword-forging from ancient times.
The swords forged in Yamato DEN tradition are famous for their beautiful Jigane, steel surface, and straight tempering line (Suguha). This blade has a beautiful Jigane with a Suguha tempering line, which shows an outstanding characteristic of the Yamato DEN sword.
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.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length (Nagasa)
:
67.8 cm (26.6 inches)
Curvature (Sori)
:
1.3
cm (0.51 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.
We estimate the motif of this Fuchi Kashira is Hagi (萩, bush clover), which has flowers divided into three clusters and rounded leaves divided into three lobes. It is a popular symbol of autumn and one of Akikusas (秋草, autumn plant) in Japan, even though it is not a showy flower.
Hagi is a shrub whose small, purple or white flowers begin to bloom at the end of summer, and it became an important symbol of autumn in the ancient Japan. In the old days, it is said that some people of the upper classes in the ancient capital went out to see the bush clovers, and brought them home to plant them in their
