katana New Addition to My Collection - Chiyotsuru Morihiro Katana

[ckaiserca]

I just recently received an addition to my small collection. I thought the members here might enjoy seeing it.

 

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token (May 23, 2019)

Inscription: Mumei (千代鶴守弘 Chiyotsuru-Morihiro)

 

Sayagaki:

Verso:

Unsigned

Son of Yamashiro Rai Kuniyasu,

Chiyotsuru Morihiro, made this.

Masterpiece (with) Jiba in excellent condition.

Length of 2 shaku, 2 sun, 6 bu.

Appraisal value of 200 gold “mai”

(Kaō)

Hon’a (possibly the 19^th generation Hon’ami Chumei (忠明) or Kochu (光仲)?

Recto:

“Den”

8th Head of Numazu Domain

Lord Mizuno Tadanori carried this sword

Storehouse 1, (i) #3

 

An 1709 Origami from Hon’ami Kōchū attributes this sword to Chiyotsuru Morihiro’s father Rai Kunimitsu:

Cover: Appraisal document of Rai Kunimitsu

Contents: Rai Kunimitsu

Genuine

Length: 2 Shaku, 2 Sun, 6 Bu

Shortened, unsigned

Appraisal Value: 20 Gold “Mai”

Hōei 6, year of the Ox (1709)

January 3rd

(Kaō)

Hon’a (Hon’ami Kōchū 本阿弥光忠)

 

Sword Details:

Polished

Habaki: double-layered gold habaki

Nagasa: 2 shaku, 2 sun, 6 bu (68.5 centimetres or 26.97 inches)

Sori: 1.2 centimetres or 0.47 inches

Mekugi-ana: 2 holes with a third that has been plugged

Width at Hamachi: 2.98 centimeters or 1.17 inches

Width at the tip: 2.22 centimetres or 0.87 inches

Thickness: 0.93 centimeters or 0.37 inches

Weight: 780 grams

Era: Nanbokucho period, from Bunna (1352) to the early Muromachi period, Ouei 1394

 

Blade Description:

The blade is O-suriage (greatly shortened) and mumei (unsigned). The blade has a deep sori (curvature) with moderate width and thickness, and an elongated kissaki.

The Jigane features a well-compact koitame hada (small wood grain pattern) with o-hada (mixed large grain) and clear nie (hardened steel granules).

The Hamon is bright and refined ko-midare (small irregular) hamon with active ko-ashi (small feet), and the blade exhibits sunagashi (sand-like patterns) and fine lines of nie.

The Boshi has a large notare (turnback) with a rounded tip.

 

Information on the swordsmith:

The name Chiyotsuru is derived from Chiyotsuru-maru. Chiyotsuru was the child of Echizen swordsmith Yamashiro Rai Kuniyuki. The first-generation Kuniyuki came from the Rai school and migrated to Echizen, residing in present-day Takefu City or Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture. The extant works are limited to the two generations of Kuniyuki, Morishige, Morohiro, and the contemporaries of Kuniyuki, Shigekuni and Yukiyuki. The name Chiyotsuru has long been popular for celebrations and ceremonies. Chiyotsuru-mori Hiro had four generations of smiths with their respective inscriptions. The first generation was active in the mid-Nanbokucho period from Bunna (1352) onwards, the second generation in the late Nanbokucho period from Shitoku (1384) onwards, the third generation in the Oei period of the Muromachi era from Oei (1394) onwards, and the fourth generation in the Kajō period of the Muromachi era from Kajō (1441) onwards. Their styles include those reminiscent of Mino swords and those incorporating the Soshu style.

 

Koshirae:

Tsuba: A red copper base with high relief carving of waves and a family crest on the mimi (ear) and chrysanthemum flowers on the surface, decorated with coloured enamel in gold.

Fuchi kashira: A silver base with high relief carvings of Hidari-mitsudomoe (three comma) mon and waves.

Saya: A pear skin-textured saya with black lacquer inlaid in a belt-like pattern.

Menuki: Made of copper, featuring high relief carvings of three Hidari-mitsudomoe mon, decorated with coloured enamel in gold.

 

[Winchester]

Thank you very much for sharing. The blade is remarkable and a fun study; I really enjoy the hada. The menuki, F/K, are a nice compliment.

 

I am a newer collector (just a few years into the hobby) and wondering given the time period, how big of a deal is it to collectors if the thickness is .76 CM. I have a blade from the same era with these measurements. Thank you in advance and apologize for the digression.

[Soshin]

On 11/5/2023 at 4:26 PM, ckaiserca said:

The first generation was active in the mid-Nanbokucho period from Bunna (1352) onwards, the second generation in the late Nanbokucho period from Shitoku (1384) onwards, the third generation in the Oei period of the Muromachi era from Oei (1394) onwards, and the fourth generation in the Kajō period of the Muromachi era from Kajō (1441) onwards. Their styles include those reminiscent of Mino swords and those incorporating the Soshu style.

Genuinely nice Japanese sword thank you so much for sharing your detailed write-up about it. One minor suggestion in the quoted text above. I have observed that in English writings about Japanese history, the Muromachi is referred to as a historical period and much shorter Oei as a historical era within the much larger historical period. 

[Surfson]

Nice sword and study piece Charles.  And the Mino/Ko-mino tsuba is quite fine as well.  Enjoy!

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