日本刀 大道 鑑定書（NBTHK 保存刀剣）付 刀

附属品

NBTHK Hozon Certificate, Koshirae Case (Decorative Sword Mounting), Shirasaya Case (Plain Wooden Case), Traditional Sword Carrying Bag, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support

Category

Katana (KOTO :古刀)

Age

Late Muromachi Period (Early 16th century)

Location

Mino province (Today’s Gifu prefecture)

登録証

Osaka 123660

販売店の記載のまま

Summary This blade is attributed to Daido (大道), who was active during the late Muromachi period in Mino province (today’s Gifu prefecture). While the certificate doesn’t mention its age, we made a phone call to NBTHK and confirmed that they estimated the age of this blade around the late Muromachi period. A few swordsmiths used Daido as their maker’s name during the late Muromachi-Edo period. Among Daido, the most famous Daido is Mutsu No Kami Daido (陸奥守大道). He signed as Kanemichi, forging swords in Mino province(Gifu prefecture), and moved to Kyoto in 1569. And he received the name 大(Dai) from the emperor Ogimachi for his excellent swordsmanship. And he changed his name to Dai-Kanemichi. Mino Province Mino Province is one of the most famous and historical sword-forging sites. There were so many schools forging blades during the Samurai period. The swordsmiths who resided in Mino province developed particular sword-forging tradition called MINO-DEN. Its characteristic is the TOGARI(Pointed shapes protruding from the Hamon ) in a classic straight line and random temper line with some white Utsuri. MINO-DEN had its origin from YAMATO-DEN in the late KAMAKURA period(1280-1330). It flourished in the MUROMACHI period(1333-1573) and continued until the EDO period(1603-1868). MINO-DEN especially prospered during Sengoku Jidai(Warring State period) due to the high demand for weapons. And the location of Mino province beat others. Akechi Mitsuhide controlled Mino province, and Nobunaga Oda ruled Owari province, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was the lord of Suruga (Neighboring areas). There was high demand from those powerful feudal lords and their retainers. Furthermore, so many wars occurred between the Kanto region and the Kyoto area. Mino was located in the middle, making feudal lords feel convenient to order swords from MINO-DEN. The blades forged in MINO provinces also had the reputation of its practical design and sharpness. Many feudal lords demanded swords forged in the Mino province. 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). Please keep in mind that there are a couple of visible kizu on the groove of the blade. Fuchi-Kashira This Fuchi Kashira has an entirely different design on each part. The Fuchi part is decorated with a geometric pattern called the Sayagata (紗綾形) design with golden paint, probably gold or brass inlay. The Sayagata (紗綾形) pattern is a design pattern of Manji (万字). Sayagata is one of the auspicious designs meaning “longevity and prosperity” because the pattern representing a large number such as 万, which means ten thousand, connected to each other is said to bring good luck. According to a theory, this motif was brought from a foreign country to Japan in the Momoyama period (1568-1600). In the Edo period, it was commonly used on figured satin and combined with designs that featured Japanese apricot blossoms, chrysanthemums, bamboos, or orchids. On the other hand, we could see that a landscape in engraved on the Kashira part. It depicts mountain scenery, and it seems golden paint was initially applied to these here and there. In addition, the same type of design is used for the Kojiri (鐺, the metal fitting that protects the tip of a scabbard). Tsuka and Menuki Although it is unsure because the judgment is based on the range that could be seen through the gaps between the knots, each Menuki probably expresses the figure of a person carrying a long, thin plant that looks like felled bamboo. There are many examples of sword mountings incorporating familiar motifs from people’s daily lives, and we think this piece is one of them. Tsuba and Habaki This antique iron Tsuba has a symmetrical shape. And its principal motif is a Kumo (蜘蛛, spider) and cobwebs. The spider depicted on the front and the object caught in the spider web depicted on the reverse are each painted in silver, and the cobwebs are depicted using gold or brass inlay techniques. As spiders nest and catch prey with their web, people considered the spider pattern had the meaning of “grabbing happiness” or “attracting things.” The cobweb was treated in Nihonshoki (日本書紀, also called as Nihongi, The Chronicles of Japan), Kokin Wakashu (古今和歌集, an early anthology of Japanese poetry) and also Heike Monogatari (平家物語, The Tale of the Heike). When the cobweb goes down in the morning, it was thought, “the person you are waiting for will come.” The spider pattern has been appreciated thanks to its beautiful nest shape and the meaning of the design. People enjoy using this motif for various items, such as Kimonos (着物, traditional Japanese costume) or ceramics. Saya This scabbard is wrapped with a gorgeously designed cloth. Its pattern is that gives an elegant impression, with a Hishi Mon (菱紋, rhombus pattern, a type of geometric pattern whose basic shape is a diamond shape) being layered with Botan Karakusa (牡丹唐草). It is a combination of Botan (牡丹, peony) flowers and the Karakusa (唐草, arabesque) pattern. Peony represents happiness, wealth, nobleness, and gorgeousness. This flower pattern has been treated as a kind of good-omen motif; people regarded it as a rich harvest sign. As mentioned above, a peony is called the Botan in Japanese. When we write this flower’s name in Kanji characters, its second letter means mountain hermit medicine that would give us eternal youth. Based on the meaning of this letter, the peony pattern symbolizes eternal youth and longevity. 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 up without interruption, people regarded this design as a symbol of prosperity and longevity. Among the Karakusa patterns, the Botan Karakusa pattern has been favored as a representative design of Karakusa patterns since the Muromachi period. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on June 3rd in the 4th year of Reiwa (2022). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.