Gassan

[NewB]

👋 

 

Dear forumites,

 

Please point me to any literature pertaining the muromachi or earlier Gassan school articles/books. I'd personally appreciate it very much!

 

P.S. I have read and googled the majority of the information available online however I feel there's considerably more to it such as blades being made for specific occasions and rarely being signed pre muromachi etc.

 

Thank you in advance 

 

 

J.

 

 

[Stefan]

Should  fill Your need .https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b682-Japanese-master-swordsmiths-gassan-tradition

 

Otherwise try 

Nihonto Koza or the Yamanaka Newsletter.

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

There is a book or 2 in Japanese that I haven't so far managed to get.

 

This one: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b486-early-style-Japanese-sword-search-origin-curve Has 10 very interesting old Gassan swords featured and each has an explanation page in Japanese. This one also has the oldest Gassan tachi I have found so far.

[Fuuten]

10 minutes ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

There is a book or 2 in Japanese that I haven't so far managed to get.

 

This one: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b486-early-style-Japanese-sword-search-origin-curve Has 10 very interesting old Gassan swords featured and each has an explanation page in Japanese. This one also has the oldest Gassan tachi I have found so far.

Yes! That one might be my favorite book (still). It also includes a bunch of Hoju. And in my opinion, one of the most beautiful blades (but sadly does not have full sugata picture), plate 20 - know it by heart

[Jussi Ekholm]

23 minutes ago, Fuuten said:

Yes! That one might be my favorite book (still). It also includes a bunch of Hoju. And in my opinion, one of the most beautiful blades (but sadly does not have full sugata picture), plate 20 - know it by heart

 

While not the topic of the thread I looked as I have that tachi in 5 different references but all seemed to have the same picture or oshigata. It is famous tachi designated Jūyō Bijutsuhin and I think named Hōjumaru 宝寿丸太刀. Hopefully I could some day see it at Musashi Mitake Jinja. I was able to find small pics that show sugata online.

 

Here it is featured at Jinja site, you'll get good idea of the sugata: http://musashimitakejinja.jp/homotsu_multilingual/ja/kokushitsu_ja.html , and see small pic here http://park2.wakwak.com/~ome.net/24bunkazai0111.html I suppose it is almost always displayed with the large Hōju Ōdachi that is also owned by the Jinja.

[NewB]

@Jussi Ekholm 

 

@Fuuten

 

Thank you kindly 

 

J.