KIYOHIDE
(Satsuma) Kiyohide (fss-418)
Mei: SASSHU JU KIYOHIDE SAKU
Date:
KOJI NINEN HACHIGATSU HI (A day in the Eighth Month of 1556)
Nagasa : 31 1/8 "
Sori: 15.0 mm
Width at the ha-machi: 31.3 mm
Width at the yokote: 19.8 mm
Thickness at the mune-machi: 6.6 mm
Construction: shinogi-zukuri
Mune: iori
Nakago: ubu
Kitae: itame
Hamon: ko-gonome
Boshi: midarekomi
Condition: fresh polish
Hawleys:
kiy60
A gorgeous koto katana in the Naminohira tradition. This school was founded before the Kamakura Period and thrived until the end of the Edo Period. Quite a few Naminohira smiths appear in Kaiho Kenjaku (1797) and Kokon Kaji Biko (1830), which rank the best blades according to sharpness. In Japan, this ranking has played an important part in estimating the quality and value of a blade. Nami� means �wave�, hira means �flat�. This translates to �sail on calm seas�. Naminohira swords made by Satsuma swordsmiths were very popular among the Japanese Imperial Navy for the swords brought with them a positive omen. In general Naminohira blades are very rare. The blade has a hamon of ko-gunome with a brilliant frosting of nioi. The hada has a blackish quality with Itame and is well forged. The boshi is midare-komi.
The mounts are an original to the sword and quite beautiful. The deep blue tsuka-ito contrasts beautifully with the gold dragon menuki. The furniture theme are water dragons and the gold inlay is exceptional. The saya is embossed with clouds and a beautiful backdrop for the water dragon theme. Water Dragons are a mythical creature found in all aspects of Japanese Art.
In both Chinese and Japanese mythology, the dragon is closely associated with the watery realm, and in artwork is often surrounded by water or clouds. In myth, there are four dragon kings who rule over the four seas (which in the old Chinese conception limited the habitable earth). In China, a fifth category of dragon was added to these four, for a total of five dragon types:
- Celestial Dragons who guard the mansions of the gods
- Spiritual Dragons who rule wind & rain but can also cause flooding
- Earth Dragons who cleanse the rivers & deepen the oceans
- Treasure-Guarding Dragons who protect precious metals & stones
- Imperial Dragons; dragons with five claws instead of the usual four
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FULL IMAGE
Details
KOSHIRAI
PAPERS
KANTEISHO
SASSHU KIYOHIDE
S�SHIN
August 20, 2010
NTHK
No. 1,584
Mei inscription:
Omote: SASSHU JU KIYOHIDE SAKU
Ura: KOJI NINEN HACHIGATSU HI (A day in the Eighth Month of 1556)
Length: 2 shaku 6 sun 0.5 bu
Kitae: Unknown
Hamon: Ko-gonome
B�shi: Midarekomi
Nakago: Yasurime kiri
He was in the NAMINOHIRA group.
This fine sword comes in polish, shirasaya, tsunagi with mounts and papers.
This sword is on consignment.
~SOLD~
Order number for this item is : fss-418
Email us if your interested in this item at info@nihontoantiques.com
12k
