Summary
This blade is attributed to Osafune Yoshimitsu (長船義光) according to NBTHK, which appraised it as a JUYO TOKEN. It is said that Yoshimitsu was the son of Kagemitsu (景光) and the younger brother of Kanemitsu (兼光). Yoshimitsu was active during the late Kamakura-Mid Nanbokucho era (1321～1368). Since he was forging blades for such a long time, one theory says the maker’s name Yoshimitsu might have lasted two generations.
Yoshimitsu belonged to Osafune school in Bizen province (Today’s Okayama prefecture). His older brother Kanemitsu was an apprentice of Soshu Masamune (相州正宗), one of the most famous swordsmiths in Japanese history. Masamune was a master of SOSHU DEN, one of the five traditions of Japanese sword forging. Bizen province was also renowned for its unique sword forging tradition called BIZEN DEN.
It is said that his older brother Kanetmisu invented the unique Japanese sword-forging technique called Soden Bizen, which is the combination of SOSHU Den and BIZEN DEN. And Yoshimitsu mastered this technique from Kanemitsu. The swords forged in Soden Bizen were very popular among Samurai back then. Yoshimitsu and his brother’s active period was almost identical. The early work (Late Kamakura period) of Yoshimitsu resembles his father’s (Kagemitsu), while others made after the Nanbokucho era had a strong influence from his brother Kanemitsu’s works.
His father, Kagemitsu, was the third head of Bizen Osafune school, while his brother was the fourth head. Yoshimitsu learned excellent craftsmanship from these two great masters. Kagemitsu was famous for inventing a characteristic Hamon (tempering line) called *Kataochi Gunome. And he became one of the top-tier swordsmiths in Bizen, and Osafune school flourished greatly. This blade has this Hamon line and contains *Gunome and Kogunome Hamon.
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 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 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.
This blade is appraised as a JUYO TOKEN(重要刀剣) issued by NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:日本美術刀剣保存協会). JUYO is one rank higher than Tokubetsu Hozon. To be eligible for a Juyo Token, it needs to be appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token first. It is extremely rare for an antique Japanese sword to be appraised as JUYO TOKEN, and it is highly desirable among Japanese sword collectors.
*Gunome: a type of Hamon that undulates in a series of semi-circles
*Kataochi Gunome: Flat-topped Gunome that slant in the same direction as saw teeth
Nakago
According to the certificate, this blade was heavily shortened in the past (Osuriage: 大磨り上げ).
Fuchi-Kashira
Clouds are designed for this Fuchi Kashira. Golden paint is applied to these motifs. The cloud pattern is also seen in the Tsuba. Please check its explanation later. Clouds bring rain and snow, and their movements significantly affect the day’s weather. Due to its supernatural power, a theory says that gods, spirits, and dragons dwell in the clouds.
The cloud pattern has been associated with magical power, and people thought it an omen of lucky things. In addition, some people wished to obtain a leisurely life in comfort by seeing clouds’ movements (that float in the sky). Or, as clouds appear repeatedly, its design represents reincarnation. Samurais were always on the verge of life and death on the battlefield. We guess they might have believed in the power of this pattern. And they had incorporated it into the design of their sword mountings, such as Tsuba.
Tsuka and Menuki
The motif of this Menuki is Maru-ni Gosan Kiri (丸に五三桐) pattern. In this work, it is designed as a family crest. The Kiri (桐) pattern is generally composed of three standing straight inflorescences and three leaves. The number of flowers that are blooming at each inflorescence means the ranks of this design. Gosan-no-Kiri Monyou (五三の桐文様) is a popular design that the paulownia motif is used. This pattern was once used by the imperial family and people in authority at that time. Today, it is permitted to use by ordinary households and is appreciated as their family crests.
The Kiri pattern has been treated as a high-class family crest because it is related to a foreign legend that surrounds the Kiri. According to a tradition, Houou (鳳凰, Fenghuang, a kind of sacred beast) rests its wings at the paulownia tree; therefore, it has come to be regarded as a holy plant. It was believed that Houou would show up when the brilliant emperor appeared. It shows people deeply considered the Kiri as a sacred object. We guess that the legend of Houou and the Kiri pattern was brought to Japan from the continent with these ideas, and then Japanese people were inspired by them.
Tsuba and Habaki
This Yotsu-Mokkou-shaped Tsuba is made from iron. On the front, you would find a dragon is depicted in the abstracted design. Clouds and the dragon are colored with golden metal (probably gold or brass). And the backside, it seems old letters are engraved.
Initially, the dragon was an imaginary creature found in ancient foreign 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, a mythical animal in Japan that looks like a snake and has 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.
Also, in Japan, there is a belief that worships dragon as a water god. Since rice cultivation has flourished in this country, water is always an essential resource. Therefore, the dragon motif has been familiar to Japanese people for a long time. And, as mentioned above, clouds bring blessed rain. Understandably, the combination of dragon and cloud patterns are often seen in sword mountings.
Authentication Paper
They authenticated the blade on Oct 10th in the 20th year of Heisei (2008). They appraised it as JUYO TOKEN, the blade exceptionally worth preserving for Japanese society.
