（Token Bijutsu No.561）

 

Nihon Koto Shi

(History of Koto)

 

By Dr. Honma Junji

 

 (15)

(P.20)

 

Kanemitsu was a son of Osafune Kagemitsu and there are extant works with dates of the Gentoku to Oan Era (1329 – 1374). There is a commonly accepted theory that there were two generations of Kanemitsu and swords made from the Bunwa are recognised as the work of the second generation. The workmanship of the first generation is as follows; sugata has normal –mi-haba and chu-kissaki, and hamon is gunome or sugu-ha in nioi-deki. The second generation makes a sugata with a wide mi-haba and o-kissaki then tempers notare and occasionally sugu-ha.

 

(Reference photos)

Juyo Bunka Zai : Tachi Mei “BISHU OSAFUNE JU KANEMITSU”

                          “KAN’O ( ? ) NEN 8 GATSU HI”

(Meibutsu ‘Fukushima Kanemitsu’) (Owned by the Tokyo National Museum)

(P.21)

Both generations produce jigane and hamon which show the characteristics of Bizen swords very well in every case. The second generation demonstrates a workmanship in Soshu style, in which nie are emphasised and jifu is seen in the ji. Considering the workmanship of Bizen-den by 1st Kanemitsu, a theory that Kanemitsu is one of Masamune Juttetsu is not affirmed at all, even though his active age satisfies the theory. The 2nd Kanemitsu demonstrates a sort of Soshu-den but his active age is far too late to be Masamune’s student. Thus, the theory that Kanemitsu is one of Masamune Juttetsu is not accepted. The theory that there were two generations of Kanemitsu has come to be commonly accepted in recent years. All sword directories written between the Muromachi and the beginning of the Edo Periods say that Kanemitsu has no successor to his smith name (just one Kanemitsu). They also say that he was active from the Gentoku to the Oan Era but 50 years of active age is too long for one smith. The 2nd Kanemitsu started tempering hamon based on notare around the Jowa and Kan’o Eras (1345 – 1355) this became his most favourite hamon around the Bunwa and Enbun Eras (1352 – 1360). Generally speaking, the former is superior to the latter in the quality of jigane.

 

(Reference photos and oshigata)

Kokuho : Tanto Mei “BISHU OSAFUNE JU NAGASHIGE”  “KINOE INU”

                                  “BIZEN (NO) KUNI OSAFUNE JU KANEMITSU”

                                  “GENKO 3 NEN 8 GATSU HI”

 

(P.22)

 

Chogi is said to be a descendant of Osafune Sanenaga but no resemblance is recognised in their workmanships. He tempers a more vigorous hamon than that of Kanemitsu and nie is more emphasised. His sword do not look like those made by a Bizen smith at a glance, therefore it is widely recognised that Chogi demonstrates Soshu-den. Inferring from the dates of his extant works (from the 10th year of the Shohei to the Oan Era, 1346 - 1374), it is impossible to justify that he was a student of Masamune. By the way, there is an extant work of Nagashige who is said to be an elder brother of Chogi and it has the date of Kenmu 1 (1334). The workmanship and chiselling style of the tanto have a close resemblance to those of Chogi and nie is more emphasised. Then there is a possibility that Nagashige is connected with Masamune directly, though I have not enough documents to justify my theory yet. Also it must be considered that there is a possibility that Nagashige is the early smith name of Chogi.

 

(Reference oshigata and photos)

“BISHU OSAFUNE JU CHOGI”

        “BIZEN (NO) KUNI OSAFUNE JU CHOGI”

                  “BISHU OSAFUNE JU NAGASHIGE”

                       Tachi Mei “BIZEN (NO) KUNI OSAFUNE JU CHOGI”

                       (Owned by the Tokyo National Museum)

 

(P.23)

Hasabe Kunishige is said to have lived in Inokuma of Gojobo-mon, Kyoto. A theory says that he moved from Yamato Province but he demonstrates typical Soshu-den with hitatsura and o-midare in thick nie-deki and his nakago resembles that of Soshu-swords.

 

(Reference photos)

Tokubetsu Juyo Token : Wakizashi Mei “HASEBE KUNISHIGE”

                                     “BUNWA 4 NEN 8 GATSU HI”

(P.24)

Shintogo Kunimitsu and Kunihiro also used ‘Hasebe’ in their signatures, therefore Kunishige may be a smith related to them. There are extant works of Kunishige with dates of the Bunwa, Enbun and Joji Eras and it can be said that he is equal to Hiromitsu and Akihiro of Soshu in forging skill. There are extant works with signatures but no dates of which the workmanship looks classic and the quality of its jigane is better than usual. Also there are masterpieces of o-suriage mumei swords attributed to Kunishige. For instance, ‘Heshikiri Hasebe’ (Kokuho), which was owned by Oda Nobunaga, shows much better quality than all of his other works. If he left ten of such quality swords, he could have occupied the top position of Masamune Juttetsu. Taking into account his extant works mentioned above, it is affirmed that 1st Kunishige was active in the Kenmu Era as old swordsmith directories say. In addition, I must refer to a tachi and two tanto with hitatsura by Rai Kunizane. Rai Kunizane is said to be a son of Rai Kunitoshi in the lineage of the Rai school and makes the same sugata as that of 1st Kunishige. The connection between Kunizane, Kunishige and Soshu smiths is an assignment to be solved in the future.

 

There is an extant tanto with the signature of ‘Sekishu Dewa Ju Naotsuna’ and a date of the Eiwa Era. Also there are his extant works that show classic workmanship in better quality. They look like one that mixes Shizu Kaneuji with Samonji but are not equal to them in quality. They appear to be the works of 1st Naotsuna in the Nambokucho Period. Though, I withdraw to conclude the theory that Naotsuna is one of Masamune Juttetsu for the time being. There are several generations of Kongo Hyoe Moritaka of Chikuzen Province. The earliest date of this smith that I have ever seen is Shohei ( ? ) 4. This family had a tradition of tempering sugu-ha then there is no possibility that he is a student of Masamune. A theory that Muramasa is a student of Masamune was already denied in old swordsmith directories written in the Keicho Era. There is no extant work of Muramasa that is earlier than the Muromachi Period.

 

Amongst Masamune Juttetsu, Sadamune, Norishige and Shizu Kaneuji are believed to have direct connection with Masamune. Then 1st Hiromitsu and 1st Hasebe Kunishige have probability of the connection. Kanemitsu and Rai Kunitsugu have a possibility considering their active ages. Go Yoshihiro, Samonji, Chogi (including Nagashige) and Kinju are the smiths whose connections with Masamune are sweepingly denied. I am negative to add Muramasa, Moritaka and Naotsuna to the students of Masamune at all. I conclude that Go Yoshihiro is the most skilful smith amongst the students of Masamune and is equal to Sadamune in skill.

 

(Reference oshigata)

“HASEBE KUNISHIGE”