Katana by (Kikumon) Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunikiyo; NBTHK Hozon

Tater · December 8

Mei: (Kikumon) Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunikiyo

Shape: Shinogizukuri Iorimune

Region: Echizen Province

Era/Age: Early Edo

Length: 70 cm; 27.6 in.

Sori: 1.0 cm; 0.4 in.

Motohaba: 3.1 cm; 1.2 in.

Sakihaba: 2.1 cm; 0.8 in.

Munekasane: 0.6 cm; 0.2 in.

Certification: NBTHK Hozon Token

Jihada: Komokume, resembling Chirimen with Chikei and Jinie

Hamon: Notare and Suguha with Hotsure and Kuichigai

Boshi: Sugu Komaru with Hakikake turn

Nakago: Suriage, Sujikai file pattern

Habaki: Gold foil

Kunikiyo was active from the Echizen Province and belonged to the Horikawa tradition. According to the features of the Mei, this katana was forged by the 2nd generation in 1668 or 1669. The 1st generation Kunihiro was a disciple of Horikawa Kunihiro. His lineage continued to the 5th generation in the mid Edo period. This lineage signed katana with a tachi-mei. The kitae with Komokume, resembling Chirimen with Chikei and Jinie is quite impressive.

Credit to Mark Sesko:

KUNIKIYO (国清), 2 nd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Echizen – “Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunikiyo” (山城守藤原国清), “[chrysanthemum] Ichi Yamashiro no Kami Fujiwara Kunikiyo” (一山城守藤原国清), real name Shimada Shinbei (島田新兵衛), he adopted later the first name Kichizaemon (吉左衛門), he signed in early years with Kunimune (国宗) and carved also a chrysanthemum on his tangs, his oldest son Ichizaemon Kunikiyo (市左衛門国清) died in the first year of Meireki (明暦, 1655) young, the 2nd gen. Kunikiyo died in the eleventh month Genroku eleven (元禄, 1698), mostly a suguha which looks quite like at a Hizen-tō at a glance, but the hada stands somewhat more out and the blades do not have the Hizen-typical clearness and brightness, from the 2nd gen. onwards the character “Ichi” was added after the chrysanthemum but the 2nd gen. also signed sometimes without “Ichi,” jō-saku

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