-, 44th Session — Designated November 12, 1998
, : Ko- (古三原)
by Taki Homare (滝誉)
Measurements 70.85 cm, 1.4 cm, 2.9 cm, 2.1 cm, 3.8 cm, 20.0 cm, 0.1 cm
Description Keijō: , ; standard with little difference between base and tip width; shallow ; . : mixed with ; somewhat standing grain overall, with and flowing tending toward the edge. The shows , , and mixed . : Medium mixed with small ; along the appear and ; with and . The is tight, with ; slight and appear, and the is bright and clear. : Shallow ; tending toward pointed, turning back in with . : None. : ; tip shallow ; ; two ; unsigned.
Artisan Ko- ( school of Bingo Province)
Era Late to early period
Explanation The group of Bingo Province arose in the late period and thereafter flourished down to the end of the period. Works produced from the late through the era are broadly referred to as “Ko-.”
Their manner shows a strongly Yamato-inflected temper. Compared with works of Yamato proper, however, the of the and is generally weaker; the forging typically reveals a pale ; and within the one sometimes finds conspicuous together with a tendency toward standing grain. A tightened and a more gentle are also characteristic features.
In this , the is mixed with and shows standing grain; the is a medium that is bright and clear; and the displays . In these respects it well demonstrates the salient points of Ko- workmanship, and the blade also has good (well-preserved blade “flesh”).
