NihontoWatchBETA
¥650,000
Weight (blade only): 703g It has appeared—a sword passed down through generations of an old family as a work by Yamashiro Rai Kunimitsu. However, in the recent Hozon Token shinsa (judgment), it was appraised as a mumei blade by the Chiyozuru school, a lineage of Yamashiro Rai Kuniyuki from the same era, around the Oan period of the Nanbokucho era (1368, 658 years ago). At the time this sword was forged, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (who built Kinkaku-ji) had just celebrated his genpuku and begun his formal political career as Shogun; in Europe, it was a time 658 years ago when the Gascon lords' rebellion against King Edward’s heavy taxes led them to appeal to King Charles V of France, triggering the resumption of the Hundred Years' War just as it seemed to be ending. The Chiyozuru school is said to have originated when Yamashiro Rai Kuniyasu migrated to Echizen. This blade was originally a long tachi of 2 shaku 6 sun, but a later bushi, desperate to make this his personal sashiryo, shortened it to suit his own swordsmanship, resulting in its current mumei state. The moto-kasane and saki-kasane are both somewhat thick, and with the difference between the moto-mihaba and saki-mihaba, a slightly extended kissaki, and a graceful sori, it retains the robust and healthy sugata of the Nanbokucho period, feeling heavy in the hand even now. The jigane is a finely packed ko-itame hada, and the horimono consists of skillfully carved bo-hi with soe-hi. The hamon is in nioi-deki with ko-nie, featuring a Yamashiro Rai-style suguha mixed with gunome and warabite-choji; this is likely why it was passed down since ancient times as a work by Yamashiro Rai Kunimitsu. Although it was transmitted by an old family as a masterpiece by Rai Kunimitsu, the recent shinsa identified it as a Chiyozuru of the Rai lineage. As the owners have grown old, they have entrusted it to us to pass on at a low price to someone who will cherish it. While it will become a masterpiece if polished, there is currently some light rust from age, so we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy this celebrated sword that was long treasured as a Rai Kunimitsu.
Weight (blade only): 703g It has appeared—a sword passed down through generations of an old family as a work by Yamashiro Rai Kunimitsu. However, in the recent Hozon Token shinsa (judgment), it was appraised as a mumei blade by the Chiyozuru school, a lineage of Yamashiro Rai Kuniyuki from the same era, around the Oan period of the Nanbokucho era (1368, 658 years ago). At the time this sword was forged, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (who built Kinkaku-ji) had just celebrated his genpuku and begun his formal political career as Shogun; in Europe, it was a time 658 years ago when the Gascon lords' rebellion against King Edward’s heavy taxes led them to appeal to King Charles V of France, triggering the resumption of the Hundred Years' War just as it seemed to be ending. The Chiyozuru school is said to have originated when Yamashiro Rai Kuniyasu migrated to Echizen. This blade was originally a long tachi of 2 shaku 6 sun, but a later bushi, desperate to make this his personal sashiryo, shortened it to suit his own swordsmanship, resulting in its current mumei state. The moto-kasane and saki-kasane are both somewhat thick, and with the difference between the moto-mihaba and saki-mihaba, a slightly extended kissaki, and a graceful sori, it retains the robust and healthy sugata of the Nanbokucho period, feeling heavy in the hand even now. The jigane is a finely packed ko-itame hada, and the horimono consists of skillfully carved bo-hi with soe-hi. The hamon is in nioi-deki with ko-nie, featuring a Yamashiro Rai-style suguha mixed with gunome and warabite-choji; this is likely why it was passed down since ancient times as a work by Yamashiro Rai Kunimitsu. Although it was transmitted by an old family as a masterpiece by Rai Kunimitsu, the recent shinsa identified it as a Chiyozuru of the Rai lineage. As the owners have grown old, they have entrusted it to us to pass on at a low price to someone who will cherish it. While it will become a masterpiece if polished, there is currently some light rust from age, so we are offering it at a special bargain price. Please enjoy this celebrated sword that was long treasured as a Rai Kunimitsu.
