NihontoWatchThe Summary This blade was signed by Yokoyama Sukehisa (横山祐久) in the 5th year of the Ansei era (1858：The end of the Edo period). He belonged to Bizen Osafune school, located in today’s Okayama prefecture. He was especially active during the Ansei-Keio era (1855-1868). He was an apprentice of Yokoyama Sukenaga. About Sukenaga(His master) Bizen Osafune Jyu Sukenaga(備前長船住祐永) is one of the most famous swordsmiths in Bizen province at the end of the Edo period(Bakumatsu). Born as the second son of Yokoyama Sukehira, he belonged to the Yokoyama school in Bizen province(today’s Okayama prefecture). He eventually became the head of this school. He called himself the 56th-gen of Tomonari, a renowned swordsmith in the mid-late Heian period in Bizen province. He was allowed to inscribe a chrysanthemum emblem, which is the symbol of the Japanese emperor. His sword forging technique was so great that the emperor allowed him to use this emblem, which was quite honorable for any swordsmith. He trained many apprentices. Sukehisa was one of his students. And we believe Sukehisa was a very skilled swordsmith while there aren’t many remaing works today. This History of Bizen Osafune School It is said that Osafune school was founded by Mitsutada (光忠), who was active during the mid-Kamakura period. Bizen Osafune school was the biggest one of all other schools in Bizen province, and they received many orders from feudal lords or renowned Samurai. They were called Osafunemono and were beloved by Samurai warriors. Among the swordsmiths who belonged to this school, Nagamitsu, Sanenaga, and Kagemitsu are known as Osafune Sansaku, the three renowned Osafune swordsmiths. There are also four other prominent swordsmiths who were from Bizen Osafune school. They are called Osafune Shiten-no, the four masters of Osafune school. Their names are Nagamitsu, Kanemitsu, Nagayoshi, and Motoshige. BIZEN is located near the Chugoku Mountains, where iron sands, one of the essential materials for making Japanese swords, were abundant. Furthermore, BIZEN swordsmiths had close access to the Yoshi River, where they could find water and charcoal. This geological location contributed to the swordsmiths forging high-quality refined blades. We presume BIZEN was quite active in sword-forging from ancient times. It is said that BIZEN DEN was created by groups of swordsmiths there during the late Heian era (Late 12th century). These ancient swordsmiths in Bizen province are called Ko-Bizen (Old Bizen) swordsmiths. By inheriting the sword forging techniques from Ko-Bizen swordsmiths, the Bizen Osafune school flourished from the mid-Kamakura period. It 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 We think this Fuchi Kashira’s design is a kind of Ajiro (網代) pattern, which is also called the Higaki (檜垣, a fence made of thin cypress boards with wickerwork). It is the design in which rows of oblique right and left rectangles are alternately combined. The intersection angle is not a right angle, and the rectangle sometimes becomes a parallelogram. It is used for dyeing and weaving tint patterns and is also seen in bamboo works. The Ajiro is a wickerwork trap, fishing gear made of bamboo instead of a net. Therefore, this design represents a large catch. Also, some people believed it would exorcise evil spirits. These meanings might have inspired this Fuchi Kashira’s design. Also, please check the design of the Fuchi part and the side of the Kashira part. It seems that an elongated bamboo is wrapped around them. As mentioned above, the Ajiro pattern has been used for bamboo works. It is probably why bamboos were designed on this Fuchi Kashira. In addition, the bamboo design itself is favored as an auspicious motif for long time. Since this plant keeps its green color even in cold winter, people thought the bamboo pattern shows eternity and longevity. Tsuka and Menuki The same as the Fuchi Kashira, this Menuki is also colored with silvery paint. Seeing from the gaps of the Tsukamaki thread, we estimate that a tree branch and a small bird perched on it are engraved. Tsuba and Habaki The surface of this Tsuba has worn away over time, making it challenging to see the engraving lines, and now it is uneasy to determine what kind of motifs were initially engraved on it. At the lower side of its front, we could see the Ume (梅, Japanese apricot blossom) tree and a figure of an animal which seems to be a tiger or lion. We assume this animal is a Karajishi (唐獅子). 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. In Buddhism, the Karajishi is regarded as a symbol of wisdom, and Monju Bosatu (文殊菩薩, Manjushri Bodhisattva) rides lions. According to a theory, the Karajishi is the origin of Komainu (狛犬, stone guardian dogs that exorcize evil spirits). It shows this beast motif has been familiar to Japanese people since ancient times. Japanese apricot blossoms begin to bloom in winter that snow still covers its tree. Therefore, people thought this flower told the arrival of spring. Same as cherry blossom, it has been appreciated for a long time in Japan. People enjoy its adorable petal shape and scent and gracefully branched tree and compose many poems. As it comes out in the cold season, it symbolizes the power of perseverance and vitality. On the backside of this Tsuba, we estimate its design is the Takaradukushi (宝尽くし, combination of several treasures) pattern. It is because we could find a Chouji (丁子, precious medicine, fragrance, dye). It is a plant that represents happy marriage, good health, and longevity. We are uncertain about other engraved motifs; these might also be elements of the Takaradukushi pattern, the same as the Chouji. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on December 14th in the 4th year of Reiwa (2022). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.
Offered by Samurai Museum
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Bizen-den · Bizen · around 1865-1868
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Bizen-den · Bizen
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| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukenobu祐信 | 1830-1844 | 0 |
| Suketaka祐高 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sukeharu祐春 | 1864-1865 | 0 |
| Sukehiro祐廣 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sukekane祐包 | 1868-1912 | 0 |
The Edo period (1615 to 1868)
For two and a half centuries of peace the sword was the warrior’s legal badge rather than his weapon. Each great city developed its own manner, Edo’s tested strength against Ōsaka’s polished brilliance, until demand thinned in the era’s last decades.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.