Antique Japanese Sword Katana Signed by Terukado NBTHK Hozon Certificate

Category

Katana (SHIN-TO)

Age

Manji era(early Edo period: 1658-1661)

Location

Mino province( Gifu Prefecture today)

登録証

Nigata 072027

販売店の記載のまま

This blade was forged by Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado(丹波守藤原照門). He was a famous swordsmith in the early Edo period. (the 1650s) He belonged to Yoshisada School, one of the seven prestigious schools in the Mino province. He first signed as Kanekado on his works. When the master of his school, Ujifusa, moved to Nagoya city, he took over the position, and he became the head of all the schools in the Seki city, located in Mino province. He received the title of Tanba no Kami in 1659 and changed his name from Kanekado to Terukado. His work was so popular among high-class Samurai that he sometimes forged swords in Edo city(today’ Tokyo) or Ise city (Mie prefecture). Isami Kondo, a famous Samurai, who played an important role in Shinsengumi at the end of the Edo period, also owned a Katana forged by Terukado. The MINO swordsmiths style, also known as MINO-DEN, basically has 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. 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 is 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. The tradition of excellent sword forging skills had been passed to the Edo period, and Terukado is a good example. This sword has a Hozon certificate issued by NBTHK. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword). Hamon The blade pattern created by the tempering process Jimon Visible surface pattern on the steel Fuchi-Kashira The battle scene is described. Samurai warriors are fighting on boards. You can find Samurai, who brings a spear, and another Samurai who holds a bow. They are glaring at their enemies; it tells us a tense atmosphere on the battlefield. The creator of this Fuchi Kashira might have wished that its owner would become a brave Samurai like warriors designed at this work. Tsuka and Menuki It is considered that kind of gears were designed for this Fuchi Kashira. It might be flags and fans which were used in battles. Flags were helpful to know whose army was on battlefields from a distance. Fans were used by commanders to take command of the troops. Tsuba and Habaki An iron Tsuba with Kozuka and Kougai holes. Two people who are engraved under the tree. Judging from their outfits, they might be hermits or mountain hermits. Some people admire them because of their magical powers or immortal bodies. This type of design is often found as Tsuba works. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on Feb 19th in the second year of Reiwa(2020). They appraised it as Hozon Touken, the blade worth preserving for Japanese society.