（Token Bijutsu No.555）

Nihon Koto Shi

(History of Koto)

By Dr. Honma Junji

(9)

(P.34)

4. Rai School

A group of swordsmiths, founded by Kuniyuki and called the ‘Rai school’, existed in Kyoto and thrived from the middle of the Kamakura to the Nambokucho Period. Kuniyuki never used the school name of ‘Rai ‘in his mei. He was followed by Niji Kunitoshi (this smith does not use the school name either) who was active around the Koan Era (1278-1287) and Rai Kunitoshi around Sho’o Era (1288-1292). Theories about whether Niji Kunitoshi and Rai Kunitoshi are the same or different smiths, has yet to be fully studied. I personally believe that they are different smiths inferring from their workmanship in which case we recognise that Niji Kunitoshi was a son of Kuniyuki and Niji Kunitoshi was the father of Rai Kunitoshi. Also I would like to understand that a smith who was active in the Sho’o and Einin Eras (1288-1298) is the first generation of Rai Kunitoshi and the one who was active in the Gen’o and Genkyo Eras (1319-1323) is the second generation taking into account their chiselling style and skill. Though, it is very difficult to make it clear when the alternation of their generations occurred. I believe that a tachi with the signature of ‘Rai Magotaro Saku’ and the date of Sho’o 5 (1292), which had been inherited by the Owari Tokugawa family, is a work of 1^st Rai Kunitoshi and its workmanship ratifies the theory too. The sons of Rai Kunitoshi and the school include Ryokai, Rai Kunimitsu, Rai Kunitsugu, Chudo-Rai Mitsukane, Rai Kunisue, Nakajima-Rai Kuninaga, Rai Tomokuni, Rai Kuniyasu and Rai Kunizane.

There are several generations of Ryokai and some extant works with the dates of the Sho’o and Einin Eras, therefore, he seems to be a junior student of 1^st Rai Kunitoshi. There is a theory that Rai Kunitsugu was a student of Soshu Masamune but it is not acceptable considering his workmanship. Meanwhile a theory that Chudo-Rai Mitsukane was a student of Rai Kunitoshi and learnt from Osafune Nagamitsu is to be affirmed by the existence of meibutsu ‘Midare Mitsukane’. There are only a few extant works of Rai Kunisue and other later smiths of the school. All of extant works of Rai Kunizane appear to have been made in the Nambokucho Period or there is a possibility that they are the works of the second generation. There seems to be two generations of Rai Kuninaga and the second generation was active in the Nambokucho Period.

(Reference oshigata)

“RAI KUNITOSHI“　　

(Showa 5 November)

“RAI KUNITOSHI EININ 4 NEN 12 GATSU 16 NICHI

“RAI KUNIMITSU” “KUNIYUKI”

“RAI KUNIMITSU” “KUNIYUKI”

“RAI KUNIMITSU” “KUNITOSHI”

“KUNITOSHI”

(‘Aizen Kunitoshi’)

(P.35)

I remember that the late Mr. Asafuki Eiji owned a tanto with the signature of ‘Sama Chin Minamoto no Kuniyori’ and a date of the Bunji Era ((1185-1189). I have not found the smith name of Kuniyori of the Rai school in old swordsmith directories, but Kuniyori is listed in the Awataguchi school (the directories say; “Kuniyori is not a swordsmith.”). The jihada of the tanto is nashiji-hada with abundant ji-nie and the jigane is very clear. The hamon is hoso-sugu-ha in thick ko-nie-deki. The blade shows the workmanship of top-class Awataguchi smiths rather than that of the Rai school. Perhaps, the character of ‘Rai’ was miscopied for ‘Chin’ in old sword directories. Considering that Rai Kunitoshi, Rai Kunitsugu and Rai Kuniyasu occasionally add ‘Minamoto’ to their signatures, there is a possibility that this tanto by Kuniyori is the oldest extant work of the Rai school. Though, there is a time difference of about 70 years between this smith and Rai Kuniyuki, it is speculated that there is a relationship between the Awataguchi and the Rai schools in their lineages. There is another tanto with the smith name of Kuniyori and the date of Gennin 1, but I am doubtful of the authenticity of the signature.

(Reference oshigata)

“RYOKAI”

“MITSUKANE”

(P.36)

(Reference photos)

National Treasure : Tachi Mei “KUNIYUKI”

(Owned by the NBTHK)

(P.37)

(Reference photos)

Tachi Mei “KUNITOSHI”

“KOAN 1 NEN 12 GATSU7 HI”

(Owned by the Tokyo National Museum)

(P.38)

5. Ayanokoji Sadatoshi

It is said that a smith called ‘Sadatoshi’ lived in Ayanokoji in Kyoto around the Bun’ei Era (1264-1274). His workmanship looks more classic than that of other smiths who were active at that time and his jigane and hamon resemble those of the Sanjo and the Gojo schools. There is a smith called ‘Sadayoshi’ who is believed to belong to the Ayanokoji school inferring from his mei and workmanship.

(Reference oshigata and photos)

“SADATOSHI” National Treasure : Tachi Mei “SADATOSHI”

“SADAYOSHI” (Owned by the Tokyo National Museum)