The sword
form known today as the Japanese sword was created in the 11th century.
Superb works were created during the pinnacle of swordsmithing which
occurred in the 13th century, the height of Japan's Kamakura Era. This
period saw the birth of many master swordsmiths, among them Sanjo Kokaji
Munechika, Awataguchi Hisakuni, and Rai Kunitoshi in Yamato province on
the outskirts of present day Kyoto, and Tomonari, Ichimonji Norimune, Yoshifusa,
Osafune Mitsutada and Nagamitsu in Bizen province, present-day Okayama
prefecture. These men were commissioned by the samurai of their day to
create the magnificient swords today designated as meito, or master swords.
At the
end of the 13th century, the Japanese military rulers predicted an upcoming
war with Mongols, and they set out to strengthen the country's power and
heighten the nation's chances in battle. The samurai warriors prepared
beautifully wrought armor and helmets to wear into the battlefield, and
they sought out the tachi created by swordsmiths. These developments led
to the creation of magnificient and indeed beautiful tachi long swords
during this period. The Mongols invaded Japan twice, in 1274 and 1281,
and incurred great damage on the northern section of Kyushu island. These
invasions also hastened the weakening of the Kamakura shogunal government.
As part
of shogunate and the imperial court's preparations for yet a third invasion,
they ordered an ongoing round of kajikito rituals to be held at Buddhist
temples and Shinto shrines throughout the nation. The shogunate donated
tachi to these temples and shrines as offerings, and ordered taht they
be used in these kajikito rituals. The Masamune is thought to have created
his swords amidst these social and historical conditions.
Masamune
is said to have created many superb swords in Kamakura, Sagami province,
but today swords signed with Masamune's own signature is extremely
rare. The unsigned swords that have been attributed to Masamune and their
splendid craftmanship have led to the high praise of Masamune as a master
swordsmith. Today, Masamune is Japan's best-known swordsmith, far outstripping
the fame of many other master swordsmiths.
Masamune
is thought to have been trained by swordsmiths from Bizen and Yamashiro
provinces, such as Kunitsuna and Kunimitsu. Masamune himself went on to
train many disciples, and the swordsmiths in the swordmaking lineages formed
by Masamune's pupils continued to forge swords with Masamune's own particular
characteristics.
Shown
in this page are swords made by Masamune, his teacher Shintogo Kunimitsu,
his senior fellow Yukimitsu, his son Sadamune, other men of the Soshu School
in the same province such as Hiromitsu and Akihiro, and the 10 Great Pupils
of Masamune who gathered from various regions of Japan, namely Rai Kunimitsu,
Hasebe Kunishige, Kaneuji, Kinju, Yoshihiro, Norishige, Naotsuna, Kanemitsu,
Chogi, and Sa.
Reference
- Soshu-den Meisaku Shu,
Honma Junji, 1975
- Masamune, Nihon no
Bijutsu No.142, 1978
- Masamune to sono Ichibun,
International Rotary Meeting, Tokyo, 1961
- Token Kantei Tokuhon,
Kokan Nagayama, 1995