日本刀 長運斎綱俊 特別保存刀剣鑑定書付

附属品

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

Category

Katana( SHIN SHIN TO)

Age

the sixth year of the Ansei era (1859)

Location

Musashi province (Today’s Tokyo prefecture)

登録証

Tokyo 159727

販売店の記載のまま

This blade was signed by Chojyusai Tsunatoshi(長寿斎綱俊) in August, the 6th year of the Ansei era (1859). The signature also says that Chounsai Koretoshi (長運斎是俊), who is the son of Tsunatoshi, was involved in this sword-forging. When two swordsmiths collaborated to create one work, it is called Gassaku (合作). It was generally done by a master and his apprentice or his son. Chojyusai Tsunatoshi is also known as the first-gen Tsunatoshi because his son also used Tsunatoshi as his maker’s name. Based on the tang, this blade was forged upon the request from Fukuda Nao-Oki (福田直興). We believe this person was a high-ranked Samurai who was wealthy enough to order a custom-made sword from a renowned swordsmith. The first-gen Tsunatoshi was born in 1798 in Yonezawa city, Hashu province (Yamagata prefecture) as the third son of Izumi no Kami Kunihide(和泉守国英). His family name was Kato, and he was the younger brother of Kato Tsunahide. Tsunatoshi’s real name was Kato Hachiro. He served Yonezawa Uesugi clan, a powerful feudal lord in today’s Yamagata prefecture. During his early career, he moved to Edo city to learn superb sword-forging techniques from Suishinshi Masahide, one of the most renowned swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. There is also a record of him forging swords in Osaka and Kumamoto while his base was in Azabu town in Edo city (Today’s Tokyo). He settled in Edo city around 1823, and he created most of his work. He started to run his school there and resided in the house of Uesugi family. It is said that he received a stipend from them. He received the honorable title Chounsai (長運斎) in the first year of the Bunka era (1854). And, he gave this title to his son Koretoshi (the second-gen Tsunatoshi) in 1856, and he got the new title Chojyusai (長寿斎). Chojyu means living a long life in Japanese. His school flourished at the end of the Edo period, training many swordsmiths who later became historically significant ones, such as Koyama Munetsugu, Takahashi Naganobu, Ishido Korekazu. Tsunatoshi excelled at forging Bizen-Den tradition swords with Choji Midare Hamon, an irregular, wavy tempering line. You can see this characteristic in this blade as well. Most of Tsunatoshi’s work reflects Bizen Den (One of the Five Japanese sword-forging traditions). In terms of Bizen Den tradition swords, it is said that Tsunatoshi school surpassed Suishinshi Masahide school. Tsunatoshi died at the age of 66 in December 1863 after creating many great swords for high-class Samurais in Edo city. He is categorized as one of the top-tier swordsmiths during the late Edo period (SHIN SHIN TO era). And, he was the head of the prosperous school at the end of the Edo period. This blade 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). Fuchi-Kashira A plant pattern is designed for this Fuchi Kashira. The same design also decorates the scabbard. Carving lines remain in good condition and make an ornamental appearance of this Koshirae. We think this plant pattern is a kind of the Karakusa (唐草, arabesque) design. It is a pattern in which stems and leaves of vines are twined and make curves. As ivy has a strong vitality and grows up without interruption, people have considered this design a symbol of prosperity and longevity. In Japanese, Vine is called Tsuru (蔓), and it has another pronunciation; “Man.” There is a word 万 (it is also read Man), which means thousand. In the Karakusa pattern, leaves and vines are connected like an Obi (帯, belt). The word 帯 can also be read “Tai.” Due to its pronunciation, the term 代 (Tai) is associated. From this word-association game, an idiom 万代 is associated, and it means a thousand generations. In other words, we imagine that people have used this design wishing prosperity and longevity for their clans for a long time. Tsuka and Menuki It is challenging to see the entire figure of Menukis through the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread. It seems a kind of animal. Regarding the curly hairs of these animals, we guess the Kara-Jishi (唐獅子) is the motif. The Shishi (獅子) means a lion in Japanese, and the Kara-Jishi is a lion brought from the Continent to Japan in the Toh period (唐, Tang dynasty, 618-907). The Kara-Jishi typically has curly hair for its head, neck, body, and tail, as you see in this work. In Buddhism, the Kara-Jishi is regarded as a symbol of wisdom, and the Monju Bosatu (文殊菩薩, Manjushri Bodhisattva) rides lions. According to a theory, the Kara-Jishi originates from the Komainu (狛犬, stone guardian dogs that exorcize evil spirits). The former owner of this sword might have been a pious Buddhist. Tsuba and Habaki This Tsuba has a symmetrical shape. Its edge is covered with a thin metal plate; it gives a decorativeness for this work. And it has practicality. For example, it prevents the wear of the edge part. We imagine it also prevents the wear and tear of the Kimono if the edge damages it by touching the cloth. You would find a heart mark in this Tsuba. It is called the Inome (猪の目) pattern. This design has been used since ancient times in Japan. As its name implies, the boar’s eyes are its origin. Some people have believed that the Inome pattern would work as an amulet to protect them from evil spirits or fire. Also, it is said it would bring good luck. Kougai The Kougai was used to arrange or fix the hairstyle of Samurais. This item is usually stored in the Kougai Hitsu. The Kozuka is often stored at the other side of the scabbard, as you see in this Koshirae. This Kougai is separated into two parts; this type of Kougai is categorized as the Wari Kougai (割笄). According to a theory, this separated type was invented in the Edo period, and it became popular as decorative metal fittings. Although there is no proof, it is said that some people used the Wari Kougai as chopsticks. Kozuka Kozuka is a small knife stored in Koduka Hitsu(groove of the sheath of the Japanese sword). A Kogatana (小刀, small knife) is stored in the Kozuka. It is probably made from copper, and its brownish color emphasizes the impression that this Kozuka looks like wood grain.; it is also because of thin line patterns. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on March 4th in the 21st year of Heisei (2009). They appraised them as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.