（Token Bijutsu No.591）

Nihon Koto Shi

(History of Koto)

By Dr. Honma Junji

(37)

(P.34)

13. Yoshii-mono and Omiya-mono

(Succeeding to the previous period)

I already described that there are extant works of Yoshii-mono and Omiya-mono made in the previous period. Extant works of Kagenori (with production dates of the Kan-o Era) and Sanenori (with production dates of the Jowa Era) of the Yoshii school who were active in the Nambokucho Period, have been confirmed. Also Kagenori of the Muromachi Period left some extant works. The earliest production date of Kagenori goes back to the Koan Era and so it can be said that the smith name of Kagenori, has the longest lineage amongst the Yoshii school. One of his extant works says, in the inscription of its nakago, that Kagenori was the head family of the Yoshii school. Yoshii smiths of this period temper gunome in nie or nioi-deki. The hamon of a tanto of Kagenori consists of thick nie and does not look like that of a Bizen smith at all. There are tachi by Naganori who was active between the end of the Nambokucho and the beginning of the Muromachi Periods. Their hamon are round ko-gunome in regular pattern and sugu-ha in nioi-deki. The former is the favourite hamon of Yoshii smiths through the Nambokucho Period up to the Muromachi Period.

There is a smith called Omiya Morikage of which earliest generation was active in the Kamakura Period. The smith name was then succeeded up to the Muromachi Period. There are some extant works of Morikage with production dates of the Joji Era also there is an extant work of Morikage with a production date of the Eiwa Era. He always adds ‘Osafune’ to his mei, therefore, the production site of Omiya Morikage from the Nambokucho Period is confirmed with this inscription. That is to say, Omiya smiths do not belong to the lineage of Nagamitsu and it is speculated that all but the first generation of those named Morikage, lived in Osafune. There is an extant tachi by Osafune Morokage, who was active between the end of the Kamakura and the beginning of the Nambokucho Periods, also another one of the Oei Era is listed in swordsmith directories. It is believed that Morokage belongs to the Omiya school. Morikage signed his mei in a similar style to that of Kanemitsu, who was active in the same period, but Morokage does his in a different style. Nie is emphasised in the ji and the ha of Morikage and his workmanship resembles that of Chogi somewhat, but his hamon is tempered in a smaller pattern.

(Reference oshigata)

“BIZEN (NO) KUNI YOSHII JUNIN SANENORI”

“BISHU OSAFUNE JU KAGE(NORI)” “MEITOKU 5 NEN 3 GATSU HI”

“BIZEN (NO) KUNI JU OSAFUNE MORIKAGE” (before the Joji Era)

(P.35)

14. Sue-Aoe

(Succeeding to the previous period)

The Aoe school is still thriving continuously in this period but far behind the Bizen schools in the scale of their production capability. They keep their tradition of the previous period and temper sugu-ha in tight nioi-deki accompanied with bright nioi-guchi, saka-ashi are seen inside the hamon, also gorgeous choji-midare mixed with sharp midare. They make normal tachi-sugata around the Rekio and Jowa Eras like Osafune smiths of this period. Entering the Enbun Era, they came to make tachi with wide mi-haba and o-kissaki, as well as o-dachi. Aoe smiths, who were active between the end of the Kamakura and the Nambokucho Period, did not forge chirimen-hada peculiar to Ko-Aoe smiths and their jihada is dense ko-itame-hada and jigane is clear. Tsugunao, Tsuguyoshi, Moritsugu, Sadatsugu, Yoshitsugu and Naotsugu left extant works with mei (zaimei). The names of Moritsugu and Sadatsugu are succeeded from the Ko-Aoe school. Amongst them, Tsugunao, Tsuguyoshi and Moritsugu temper gorgeous saka-choji-midare, some differences are recognised in their saka-choji-midare.

(Reference oshigata)

Juyo Token : Wakizashi Mei “BIZEN (NO) KUNI YOSHII JU SANENORI”

“BUNWA (3) KINOE UMA 7 GATSU HI”

“(Vermilion lacquer inscription) SHOTOKU 2 NEN ORIGAMI DAIKIN KINSU 6 MAI”

(P.36)

(Reference photos)

Tokubetsu Juyo Token : Katana Mei “BISHU OSAFUNE JU MORIKAGE”

“EIWA 1 NEN 10 GATSU HI”

(P.37)

(Reference photos and oshigata)

Tokubetsu Juyo Token : Wakizashi mei “BITCHU (NO) KUNI TSUGUYOSHI SAKU”

“JOJI 2 NEN 12 GATSU HI”

　　　　　　　　　“BITCHU (NO) KUNI JU TSUGUNAO SAKU”

“ENBUN 3 NEN 11 GATSU HI”

(P.38)

(Reference photos)

“BITCHU (NO) KUNI JU MORITSUGU SAKU ENBUN 2 NEN 12 GATSU ( ? ) HI”

Tokubetsu Juyo Token : Wakizashi Mei “BITCHU (NO) KUNI JU TSUGUNAO SAKU”

“ENBUN 4 NEN 11 GATSU HI”