説明

Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Zushu Naotsugu with NBTHK Hozon Certificate 【Description】 Summary This blade was signed by Zushu Naotsugu (豆州直次) in the first year of the Keio era ( 1865 ). Zushu us another name for Izu town located in today’s Shizuoka prefecture. There was also a record of him forging blades in Edo (Today’s Tokyo). 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). However, toward the end of the Edo period(1764-1876), the Japanese sword’s role changed dramatically. With the poverty spreading in Japan, there were so many riots initiated by the civilians. Japanese sword started to play an essential role in maintaining public safety. Pressure from foreign countries to open Japanese borders also forced Samurai to order strong-looking swords to survive this tumultuous time. We believe many swordsmiths, including Naotsugu, made great efforts to forged high-quality, practical blades for their masters to prepare for battles. 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. 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) : 70.8 cm ( 27.5 inches) Curvature (Sori) : 1.0 cm (0.39 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. 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. The surface of this Fuchi Kashira is uneven, and there are metal rusts due to aging. You would find several golden-colored dots here and there; they seem to be stars shining in the night sky. This Fuchi Kashira has an elegant design that is not at all extravagant but has a gorgeousness that does not compromise its practicality. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka is the handle of the Japanese sword and Menuki is its decoration. You would find the figure of a dog-like animal on each side of the handle. Due to their appearances, we believe the Karajishi (唐獅子) is the motif of this Menuki. Some of the surface color has currently faded due to aging and friction. However, we could assume that the brown color of the copper initially stood out well. The Shishi (獅子) means a lion in Japanese, and the Karajishi is a lion brought from the continent to Japan in the Toh period (唐, Tang dynasty, 618-907). The Karajishi typically has curly hair for its head, neck, body, and tail. A simplified pattern of this curly hair is carved. In Buddhism, the Karajishi is regarded as a symbol of wisdom, and Monju B