Rai Kuniyuki : evidences he was from Korea ?

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Hi all.

 

I remember taht a lot of time ago I stumpled in some writings about the

korean origin of the Rai school founder. Today I had to face a thread on another forum in which I found this sword :

 

http://www.swordsofkorea.com/sword7.htm

 

Seems to me to remember that one of the suggested points about the

possibility Rai Kuniyuki was from Korea (either a Japanese born in Korea and then returned home or of full korean roots) was a detail in the first character of the signature.

To be fully honest I have no more evidences of what I remember so I'm kindly ansking if somebody out there can provide me further info about the origins of Rai Kuniyuki, better if with bibliography or sources that I can buy.

 

Thanks for your replies if any.

 

Carlo

 

EDIT : Nihonto Koza and Fujishiro already read, thanks...

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Carlo,

 

According to old texts like the Koto Meijin Taizen, the founder of the Rai School, Kuniyoshi, is said to have been a immigrant from Korai (Korea). ........... . The character Rai (来) means to "come" and perhaps this may have been the reason for the use of the character of the founder since he came from the Korean Peninsula. Yamanka Newsletters Revised vol. 1 pg 42 published by NCJSC http://www.ncjsc.org/pubs_4_sale.htm

 

Also, http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/tatara/nnp020103.htm

 

 

Regards,

Franco

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Thanks Franco. Likely the passage (about the Kanji) I remembered.

 

To be blended with the Fujishiro's one :

 

"KUNIYUKI RAI [sHÔGEN 1207 YAMASHIRO] KOTÔ SAIJÔSAKU

He is the founder of the Rai Ha, is the son of Kuniyoshi, is called Raitarô, and is the father of Raimagotarô Kunitoshi. He is

said to have signed in the beginning with the two kanji of Kuniyuki, and to have later inscribed the three kanji of Rai Kuniyuki,

but I have not seen this three kanji signature. Along with Magotarô Kunitoshi, he made equipment to fend off the foreign

invasions of Bun'ei and Kôan, and it can be imagined that they were diligent in making mostly swords. He made many tachi

with a wide body and hamon of choji, ko-choji, and ô-choji with deep nioi, and bôshi of ko-midarekomi.

Signature: KUNIYUKI

It is said that the father of Kuniyuki was a man of Korea, that he became naturalized and was called Kuniyoshi, but this is not

clear from his works. It also says in the Kanchiin Hon, "His forefather kaji came from Korea, and had the Gô of Raikuni".

A

Rai linealogy chart is shown below. (Kanemaru and Tsurakage are mistaken for names on tachi of Kuniyuki)

.

The chart reads as follows, reading the columns top to bottom, beginning with the right hand column.

 

 

1. KUNIYOSHI, KUNIYUKI, KUNITOSHI, KUNIMITSU

2. KANEMARU, KUNIMATSU

3. TSURAKAGE, DAUGHTERS, KUNITSUGU RAI HYÔEINOJÔ

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi Carlo,

 

It is very probable that Kuniyoshi arrived in Japan at the "request" of the Japanese court.

 

Rai swords are quite wonderful and a special treat to see, especially a sword with nie utsuri and/or packed with ji-nie. Being rare and generally expensive many collectors will never come to realize just what they're missing. On occasion Mr. Benson will have a Rai meibutsu at one of the sword shows.

 

regards,

Franco

[ironchef.]

According to my sensei, he has two theories on the Korean origin of KuniYuki / Kuniyoshi. Both ideas concur that the Rai group are of Korean ancestry.

 

The first is that ancestors or possibly Kuniyoshi himself came to Japan and founded the Rai school. They only started using the "Rai" designation after the decline of the Awataguchi school because the Rai group managed to produce swords cheaper and faster. In theory, the Awataguchi group produced swords with nearly little or no shingane, hence the high quality and also high cost. The Rai School made blades with thin kawagane wrapped around shingane. This was cheaper and faster to make, hence their proliferation.

 

The second guess is that these Korean ancestors came over to Japan a century or more before the Heian period. They settled in Yamato and later sent a representative at the beginning of the Kamakura period to Yamashiro. Once that smiths became established in the mid-Kamakura, the Rai school solidified itself. I've read that Kuniyuki was good friends, possibly a literal next door neighbor of Ayanokoji Suketoshi, hence the similarities in their workmenship. My sensei has gone further in saying there was a possibility they made have traded works when one was busier than the other and vice versa and signed their own mei's to the other's work accordingly.

 

Please take with a healthy grain of salt. These were just ideas postulated in discussion between myself and my sensei. This is an excellent thread though that started some good discussion.

 

Ricky

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Hi Ricky.

 

Seems my Senpai agree with your theory (still a grain of saltto be used ?) :

 

quote...

 

Some Japanese texts gives as the starter of the rai school to Kunitoshi I father of Kuniyuki that was father of Kunitoshi (Niji or Rai).

Today as exists Tachi signed Kuniyuki but no works of Kunitoshi I (at least surely attributed to him) exists, the starter of the Rai school is belived ot be Kuniyuki.

 

Kunitoshi I (the grandfather) klived in the Koryo period (?) in Korea during the mongolian invasion ended in 1231. He fled in Japan were his skill was appreciated and took the name of Kunitoshi, emracing the Japanese way of smithing, (awataguchi?). Perhaps the Kanji for Kuni in Kuniyuki is different because of taken by the name of the father that was not able to correctly write the Japanese yet. This is only a theory.

 

...unquote.

[Adrian S]

Here's another interesting link on this subject.

 

http://thomaschen.freewebspace.com/custom.html