Sayagaki Help Kanefusa

[Dino]

I am looking for any Information or known books on the Mino Kanefusa line of swordsmiths during mid 1500's, any references would be great. If at all possible some help on translating the Sayagaki to English, which would be very appreciated. I really like this Naginata Naoshi it's over 2 Shaku and has a extremely sharp point "I found this out the hard way". When I was taking the pictures this morning I did not realize that the point had hooked onto the material and I moved the sword forward and went through the top sheet and then through the bed comforter and into the sheet below within a fraction of a second! I will have some explaining to do when my wife get's home! I hope someday I will be able add to this forum instead of always needing help.

 

Thank you and Happy Holidays

Dino

[John A Stuart]

Hi Dino, There are two Seki smiths with the name Kanefusa that may be who you are talking about around this time. Eiroku 1558- 1570, and Tensho 1573- 1592. Let me know which you need further info on and I will try other books I have on just Mino smiths. John

[John A Stuart]

Hi The first part of the sayagaki says 'Noshu (Mino) no Seki Saku Kanefusa'. You already know that, I'm sure . John

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

 

Kanefusa ha of Mino started in the late Muromachi, the name will change in the Shinto era, it became Ujifusa and the family moved to Owari (Wakasa no kami) and another branch to Satsuma (Bingo no kami). The kanji Uji was given to Seki Kanefusa by the daimyo Imagawa Ujizane (Suruga).

 

There are other Kanefusa in Sue-Seki but they appear unrelated and are listed under Sue-Seki kaji:

 

Seki Kanefusa (bunmei -1469 ) and followers (7 generation) until 1615.

[John A Stuart]

The Kanefusa II who in 1562 took the nanori of ‘uji’ and became Ujifusa was the son of Kanefusa of the Seki Zenjo line. At around the same period as Kanefusa II there were two other smiths from the same school who used Kanefusa, Kanefusa IV (used nijimei) mid to late 1500s, Kanefusa, Eiroku era (nijimei). There are others that are later in the 1500s of this school. Within the Sue-Seki ha Kanefusa (Seki), Eiroku era, worked in Seki and later Inuyama, (used Seki Kanefusa, Noshu Seki Ju Kanefusa, Noshu Seki Ju Kanefusa Saku, Inuyama Ju Kanefusa, Bishu Inuyama Ju Kanefusa, Iwami no Kami Fujiwara Kanefusa) and Kanefusa (Seki), Tenbun era. I don’t know which would relate to your naginata naoshi though. This is all from Cox’s book. I can look through the Mino Taikan but it would take me some time. John

[Dino]

Thanks guys for working on this

 

The only information I have dates the sword to (ca.1550). That should eliminate some of the swordsmiths using Kanefusa. Maybe this Seki Kanefusa was the father of Ujifusa, the dates would seem to make sense?

 

Dino

[Jean]

Hi Dino,

 

There are different sayagakis done by Tanobe sensei : What is very important is the second column (under the attribution). If if it is splitted into columns, it may mean that the sword is (probably) TH level. One column means not much consideration toward the sword. It may not be universal but a good hint. (Unfortunately I know it by experience).

 

You will find all the data needed about Mino kajis (for English readers - sorry, I'm not one :lol: :lol: _ in the Mino-To by M.E. Cox) It is a very cheap book for the data amount it gives. (Mike, you don't owe me any thing - It is a splendid book!!!!

[Wim V]

Hi Dino,

 

Seems to be a very nice sword you have there.

 

I have not been able to translate the sayagaki completely and I am also not 100% sure of what I found, but I suppose other people will be able to correct my tryings. This is what I got so far:

 

濃刕関住兼房 Noshu Seki Ju Kanefusa

 

但薙刀直無銘也 Tada Naginata Naoshi Mumei Ya

 

時代永禄頃歟 Jidai Eiroku Goro Yo (the era is around Eiroku, 1558-1570)

 

刃長貮尺六分半有之 Hacho Ni Shaku Roku Bu Han Ari Kore

 

平成壬午歳??下浣?山識 Heisei Mizunoe Uma Sai ... ? (year of the horse 2002)

 

Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten (koto volume) lists two Kanefusa, one around Tensho and one around Eiroku, as John already mentioned. Because the sayagaki mentions Eiroku as the jidai I would go for the one on page 100:

 

KANEFUSA SEKI ZENRYO [EIROKU MINO] SUE-KOTO JO SAKU

 

Best regards,

 

Wim

[John A Stuart]

Dino, No, too early and a very big name. John

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

 

Within the Sue-Seki ha Kanefusa (Seki), Eiroku era, worked in Seki and later Inuyama, (used Seki Kanefusa, Noshu Seki Ju Kanefusa, Noshu Seki Ju Kanefusa Saku, Inuyama Ju Kanefusa, Bishu Inuyama Ju Kanefusa, Iwami no Kami Fujiwara Kanefusa) and Kanefusa (Seki), Tenbun era.

 

i have an oshigata signed Noshu Seki Ju Kanefusa saku and dated from Bunmei 14 in the MINO TOKU NO KENKYUJO.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Jacques, I listed only those that may be in period to Dino's sayagaki. The Eiroku period smith worked until the Tensho period. Yours, Bunmei is almost 100 years earlier. A very intense period of manufacture with many smiths and confusing, especially since I see him listed as the son of Kaneshige signing Kanefusa Saku. Tell me more about Mino Toko no Kenkyujo please. John

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

 

MINO TOKU NO KENKYUJO. is a Japanese book talking about blacksmiths from Mino province during the Muromachi jidai. Tokugawa art (sanmei.com) sells it for 4200 yens.

[John A Stuart]

Thankyou, I'll have to check it out. The price is certainly reasonable. The Minoto Taikan cost me over $700. John

[Dino]

Thank you everyone for the helpful information on my Sayagaki and on the Kanefusa smiths. I appreciate the book suggestions as well, in this hobby it would seem that you could never have enough books. I am a newer collector and I am amazed how diversified and how much research and knowledge is needed.

 

Thank you all

Dino

[Nobody]

The translation for the sayagaki was already done by Wim, and that was almost perfect.

Here is my reading with a few corrections.

 

 

濃劦関住兼房 (Noshu Seki ju Kanefusa)

 

但薙刀直無銘也 (Tadashi naginata-naoshi mumei nari) – However, it is a naginata-naoshi and unsigned.

時代永禄頃歟 (Jidai Eiroku goro ka) – Era may be around Eiroku (1558-1570).

 

刃長貳尺六分半有之 (Hacho ni shaku roku bu han ari kore) - Blade length is 2 shaku and 6.5 bu.

 

平成壬午歳睦月下浣探山識 (Heisei Mizunoe-Uma no toshi mutsuki gekan Tanzan shirusu) – At the latter part of January in 2002, Tanzan wrote.