Purchased a yari today

[WellsFargo]

Good afternoon gents,

 

I've just returned from an arms fair together with my father and we've purchased a beautiful yari. it is signed: Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunitsugu. This smith was active from 1615 till 1660 and is labelled a jo saku class smith. His swords are considered wazamono.

It has no papers. I've attached a few pics for you to enjoy, and, as we are beginners in this Nihonto world... any info you guys can give regarding this yari, smith, school, periode would be very much appreciated.

 

Greets,

 

Jan-Wouter

[John A Stuart]

From Fujishiro; KUNITSUGU YAMASHIRO NO KAMI [MANJI 1658 MUSASHI] SHINTÔ CHÛSAKU

He is thought to be a smith who moved from Echizen to Edo.

Signatures: YAMASHIRO NO DAIJÔ FUJIWARA KUNITSUGU

YAMASHIRO NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITSUGU

He added the KIKU MON

John

[WellsFargo]

Thanks John,

 

What do you think? I live in the Netherlands and let's say that maybe in the coming years the NTHK will have another Shinsa somewhere in Europe.... would it be a good idea to submit it for shinsa?

 

Jan-Wouter

[John A Stuart]

It is always nice to have the research you do on a piece verified by an expert team. It is like a stamp of authenticity giving the comfort of knowing you have something directly attributable to a certain smith. It won't make you like the yari any more or less, but, is good to have. The joy comes in the going through the shinsa process which makes your yari more personal. John

[WellsFargo]

You're absolutely right. Well put.

 

Do you know if there will be a shinsa outside of Japan in the coming years? Is there any way of knowing/asking?

 

Jan-Wouter

[John A Stuart]

There used to be shinsa quite often in the Netherlands, but, with the death of an important figure recently in your country's sword collecting community it seems to have had an effect. Hopefully someone on this board will know. Maybe http://www.society-for-Japanese-arts.org/ or NETHERLANDS TOKEN SOCIETY - Regular meetings at various locations. The February meeting will be on the 8th at Hotel 'De Ossewa', Duinweg 7, 2202 RA, Noordwijk, Holland. Contact Bob de Vroedt at secretaris@to-ken.nl for details.

[WellsFargo]

Hi John,

 

I have a question. You replied that according to Fujishiro this smith "Kunitsugu Yamashiro no kami" is "chusaku".

However the seller stated that this smith was "jo saku".

Now, I do not own the "Nihon Toko Jiten" from Fujishiro, nor the translation from Harry Watson, so I tried the swordsmith database on nihotoclub.com and there are two Kunitsugu's and both are "Jo Saku".

 

You also state that this smith signed as "Yamashiro daijo fujiwara Kunitsugu" and in this smith-database on nihontoclub.com this smith is rated as "Jo Saku".

 

It doesn't change anything for me with regards to liking this yari, but it's quite a difference... chusaku or josaku...

It would be nice to know for sure. Maybe you can help me out with this.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Jan-Wouter

[pcfarrar]

You're absolutely right. Well put.

 

Do you know if there will be a shinsa outside of Japan in the coming years? Is there any way of knowing/asking?

 

Jan-Wouter

 

If we can meet demand there might be a shinsa in the UK next year:

 

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6382

[John A Stuart]

Well, if it is the Daijo smith it would be; KUNITSUGU YAMASHIRO NO DAIJÔ [KAN'EI 1624 ECHIZEN] SHINTÔ CHÛJÔSAKU

He is the eldest son of Yamato no Daijô Masanori, and is called Yamada Shichirôbei. He is said to have died at the age of 65 in Kan'ei Rokunen (1629). (Wazamono)

Signature: YAMASHIRO NO DAIJÔ FUJIWARA KUNITSUGU

I went by the signature as read. John

[Jacques]

None of the Kunistugu smiths in Shinto era are Jo-saku and the mei seems matching the oshigata of the chu-saku.

[Bugyotsuji]

A pretty looking Yari there. Congratulations.

 

One thing to be aware of is that recently there is a trend/fashion for polishing the ha to look more beautiful than it was originally intended. This can actually hide the original ha and make it more difficult to read, I have heard. I bought a sue Bizen Munemitsu Yari which I was proudly waving around until someone pointed this out to me. Not saying that this is the case with your yari, but another avenue to explore.

[WellsFargo]

Thanks John and Jaques for your replies.

 

So "chu saku" it is.

 

That would be great if there is a shinsa in the UK next year.

 

Jan-Wouter