（Token Bijutsu No.566）

Nihon Koto Shi

(History of Koto)

By Dr. Honma Junji

(19)

(P.24)

More works with the signature of just ‘Ichi’ by Ichimonji smiths are seen after the middle of the Kamakura Period. Some of their hamon look more gorgeous than that of Yoshifusa, Norifusa and Sukezane but the former is inferior to the latter in the quality of jigane. Even famous ‘Ima Aranami Ichimonji’ and ‘Doyo Ichimonji’ are not equal to the fine works of Yoshifusa, Norifusa and Sukezane. ‘Sanchomo Ichimonji (or Yamadorige Ichimonji)’ and meibutsu ‘Nikko Ichimonji’ are tachi with no signature and untouched nakago. These two tachi are to be attributed to smiths of this school of the mid Kamakura Period. The former can be attributed to one of the smiths with the signature of ‘Ichi’ then the jihada of the latter is similar to that of a smith related to Sukezane and the hamon consists of tight nioi and the pattern looks artificial. Both tachi are great swords but it is very difficult to single out the names of the makers.

(Reference photos)

Gyobutsu (Imperial collection) : tachi Mei “ICHI” (Meibutsu ‘Doyo Ichimonji’)

(Owned by the Imperial household Agency)

(P.25)

(Reference photos)

Kokuho : Tachi Mumei attributed to ‘Ichimonji’ (nicknamed ‘Sanchomo’)

(P.26)

Many smiths have lived in Fukuoka of Bizen Province but there is only one smith called ‘Naganori’, whom we can confirm from the inscriptions of extant works, was active in Fukuoka in the Einin and Kagen Eras. He made slender tachi sugata and tempers sugu-ha and sugu-ha mixed with ko-choji and ko-gunome. His workmanship has a close resemblance to that of Osafune Nagamitsu and Sanenaga who were active in the same age. Though, it is speculated that the workmanship of Naganori does not represent that of the school and there were smiths who tempered traditional choji-midare. An old swordsmith directory says that Naganori lived in Osafune then it suggests his relationship with the Osafune school.

(Reference photos)

Kokuho : Tachi Mei “ICHI NAMU HCHIMAN DAI BOSATSU”

“NAMU MYOKEN DAIBOSATSU” “GENKYO 2 NEN 3 GATSU HI”

“BIZEN (NO) KUNI YOSHIOKA JU SAKON SHOGEN KI

SUKEMITSU’

(P.27)

Smiths who lived in Yoshioka thrived much more that ones in Fukuoka at the end of the Kamakura Period. Sukemitsu, Sukeyoshi (Gi-Sukeyoshi), and Sukeyoshi are representative smiths and they became to be called ‘Yoshioka-Ichimonji’. The Osafune school that occurred in the mid Kamakura period learnt from the Ichimonji school. Meanwhile, the Ichimonji school of the end of the Kamakura Period appear to have been merged into the Osafune school and they gradually lost their own characteristics. Though, smith who add ‘Yoshioka to their mei still make tachi with wide mi-haba and temper o-choji-midare, ko-choji-midare mixed with togari-ba and sugu-ha mixed with ko-choji and togari-ba. Incidentally, they make tanto with narrow mi-haba and their hamon is sugu-ha, gunome and choji-mixed with gunome.

(Reference photos)

Kokuho : Naginata Mei “ICHI BISHU YOSHIOKA JU SAKON SHOGEN KI

SUKEMITSU”

“GEN’O 2 NEN KANOE SARU 11 GATSU HI”

(P.28)

(Reference photos)

“BIZEN (NO) KUNI YOSHIOKA JU SAKON SHOGEN KI SUKEMITSU”

“ICHI NAMU HCHIMAN DAI BOSATSU”

“NAMU MYOKEN DAIBOSATSU” 　　“GENKYO 2 NEN 3 GATSU HI”

“BIZEN (NO) KUNI YOSHIOKA JU SAKON SHOGEN KI SUKEMITSU”