江戸時代初期 古刀 銘 廣重 刀 ｜ 侍ミュージアムショップ

附属品

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

Category

Katana( SHINTO)

Age

Estimated Early Edo Period(Mid-Late 17th century)

Location

Bushu (Hachioji city in Tokyo)

登録証

Osaka 38636

販売店の記載のまま

This blade was forged by Bushu Shitahara Jyu Hiroshige(武州下原住広重). Bushu Shitahara is the name of the area in the Tokyo area today where he created this blade. According to NBTHK that authenticated this blade, it was forged approximately in the early Edo period. We made a phone call to them to confirm it. Hiroshige belonged to the Bushu Shitahara school, located in today’s Tokyo(Hachioji city).It is said that Yamamoto Norishige founded the school, and it thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (Late 16th century to Late 19th cetnury). Shitahara Kaji is the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period. After the Toyotomi clan destroyed the Hojo clan in the Azuchi Momoyama period, Shitahara started to serve the Tokugawa clan as Okakae Kaji, swordsmiths exclusively working for a specific feudal family. Most of the Shitahara swordsmith’s real sir name was Yamamoto. They especially flourished during the late Muromachi period-early Edo period. They kept forging for the Tokugawa clan until the end of the Edo period. Among the Bushu Shitahara group, Hiroshige was one of the most famous ones. The maker’s name, Hiroshige, lasted for several generations. This blade 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). *Please keep in mind that there are a couple of Kitae Kizu on the blade. Fuchi-Kashira This Fuchi Kashira’s surface is raised like scales. As described below, Menuki’s motif is probably the dragon. Therefore, it would be interesting to imagine this Fuchi Kashira’s design is related to the dragon’s scale pattern. Tsuka and Menuki Dragon is the motif of this Menuki. The golden coloring makes this ornamental look. Initially, the dragon is an imaginary creature found in ancient traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbol of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, belly is the Mizuchi (蛟, mythical animal in Japan which looks like a snake and have a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers, and ears are cows. It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. Tsuba and Habaki The edge of this Tsuba is framed with a golden metal plate. It makes this Tsuba sturdy, and also this decoration is an ornamental element for this work. The Tomoe (巴) pattern is designed on this Tsuba. There are several theories about the origin of this design. According to an idea, it was modeled on the shape of the Magatama (勾玉, comma-shaped bead), or it was based on the swirling of flowing water. It is also said that the Tomoe pattern comes from the Tomo (靹). It is a tool attached to the inside of the left wrist when shooting a bow to prevent the bowstring from hitting the arm or bracelet after shooting an arrow. The Tomoe pattern represents water, so that people treated it as a talisman to prevent fire. It was often applied to the roof tiles of shrines. It is because people believed the Tomoe design would exorcize evil spirits. This Tsuba’s design is categorized the Mitsu-Domoe (三つ巴), the pattern with three commas. Authentication Paper NBTHK Hozon Certificate for the blade (N0. 3026373) They authenticated the blade on May 24th in the third year of Reiwa (2021). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.