説明
Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi attributed to Shitahara with NBTHK
Hozon
Certificate
【Description】
This blade was attributed to Shitahara school during the early Edo Period (Mid-Late 17th century). Shitahara is also the name of the area in Hachioji city in today’s Tokyo.
It is said that Yamamoto Norishige founded Shitahara school, and it thrived from the end of the Muromachi period to the late Edo period (Late 16th century to Late 19th century).
The swordsmiths who lived in Shitahara were called Shitahara Kaji. They were the group of swordsmiths under the Hojo clan’s auspicious, powerful feudal line during the late Muromachi period first. It is said that the first-gen Yasushige was the son of Chikashige, another prominent figure in this school. The first-gen Yasushige originally signed Chikashige as his first maker’s name. However, he changed it to Yasushige after receiving 康 (Yasu) letter from Hojo Ujiyasu, a famous feudal lord he served.
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, Yasushige was one of the most famous makers.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of the blades forged by Shitahara Kaji is Jorinmoku (如輪杢), which looks like a whirlpool on Hada (the steel surface of the Japanese sword).
Horimono (Engraving)
On this blade, you would find a Horimo (彫物, blade sculpture) and Hi (樋, grooving) on each side. These are the elements of this blade’s beauty.
On one side, Kurikara-Ken is depicted. Kurikara is the sword that Fudo Myo-O (不動明王, acalanātha) holds with his right hand. Fudo Myo-O is one of the objects of worship in Buddhism. According to a theory, it is the incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai (大日如来, Mahāvairocana, the principal image of esoteric Buddhism). Kurikara-ken was named after its appearance that Kurikara Ryu-O (倶利伽羅龍王, dragon) is winding around the sword. It is believed Kurikara-Ken could cut off worldly desires: Sandoku (三毒). Sandoku is the three fundamental human desires; Ton (貪, greed), Jin (瞋, anger, grudge), Chi (癡, delusion, complaint).
On the other side, the Horimono of Bonji (梵字) and Gomahashi (護摩箸) are engraved. Bonji (梵字) is Sanscrit characters carved into the blade invoking Buddhist deities. There are also Sanskrit characters that represent Fudo Myo-O. Perhaps the most common type of Sanskrit character carved on the blades is the character “Kahn (カーン)”, which means Fudo Myo-O. There is also a Sanskrit character called “Kanmarn (カンマーン),” which is combined with the word “Man.” Gomahashi (護摩箸) is a horimono in the form of the ritual chopsticks used in both Shinto and Buddhist rites.
The Hi (樋) is a grooving, often in the form of a bar, carved along the blade. The exact role of Hi is unknown; however, there are three accepted theories. First, it is for the weight saving of the blade without reducing its strength. Second, it is for making a nice-looking blade. And the third theory is to produce the sound of cutting the wind when the sword is swung.
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). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, well preserved and high quality with artistic value.
【Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)
:
39.2 cm (15.4
inches)
Curvature(Sori)
:
0.9
cm (0.35 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 becau
