Question about Hokke school

[klee]

Good morning

 

I was wondering if anyone had or if there s a source for a definitive time frame for the Hokke school. I ve always admired their blades whenever I see one so I was hoping to learn a little more. Their blades seem to be a less elegant Mihara but with a far more powerful and practical atmosphere which I prefer.

 

I know that it is an offshoot of Mihara but there seems to be a lot of contradicting dates of origin and end. Many citing it was started in late kamakura by Sukekuni and some saying late nanbokucho/ early muromachi. Also have seen different suggestions for an end date with some citing pre 1500 and some saying they lasted all the way to Momoyama period.

 

I ve seen Hokke with NBTHK certificates saying just " Hokke" and some specifically saying " Hokke-Nanbokucho " but im not sure if it s a way to separate muromachi and nanbokucho blade like they do with Ko Mihara and Mihara attributions

 

Thank you for any info

-Kevin L

[Jussi Ekholm]

It depends what will be considered as first Hokke blades. Personally I think it starts at late Nanbokuchō.

 

I see Kokubunji Sukekuni (助国) not as Hokke smith in general but I see him as Kokubunji smith. For him I have found dated swords from 1323 to 1329. There are few other smiths in area during this late Kamakura period that I connect to Kokubunji, as well as one huge Nanbokuchō ōdachi.

 

Chikatsugu (親次) is seen as ancestor of Hokke smiths, for him I have only found 1 tachi dated 1352. Kaneyasu (兼安) I believe would be among the first Hokke smiths. For him I have found several 1369 and 1370 dated swords. Futarasan Jinja has an awesome late Nanbokuchō ōdachi by smith Kaneshige (兼重), while his lineage is bit unclear I have grouped him as Hokke smith. I have seen the sword several times and it is amazing. For Ichijō (一乗) I believe there is the 1411 one as only dated sword remaining. Then there are few Hokke smiths whose dated work is found between 1367 to 1390.

 

Not to make things too clear I believe Tatsubō school originated about the same time in relatively nearby area. So for me it is difficult to understand which smith belongs to which school. For Tatsubō smiths I have dated items from 1365 to 1373.

 

In general I would assume if NBTHK attributes sword as Hokke, it would be quite plain work from late Nanbokuchō to early Muromachi. I personally have a very wide blade with old NBTHK papers to Hokke Ichijō.

[klee]

Thank you for the insight Jussi 🙏🙏🙏 !

[Lewis B]

So for my own information Hokke and Ko-Hoki are not related?

[Hokke]

In line with what Jussi said, I have a Hokke Kaneyasu that was dated 1368 to 1375 Oan. Mine is enbun-joji in shape which ties it strongly to Nanbokucho with Yamato influence.