Difference between revisions of "Famous Samurai Swords"

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* [[Akechi Mitsuhide|Akechi Mitsuhide's]] sword : made by Bishû Osafune ju Chikakage (active in Gen-O, 1319) [http://www.sho-shin.com/chikkag1.JPG Picture]
 
* [[Akechi Mitsuhide|Akechi Mitsuhide's]] sword : made by Bishû Osafune ju Chikakage (active in Gen-O, 1319) [http://www.sho-shin.com/chikkag1.JPG Picture]
  
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*The [[Ashikaga clan]] sword, Ebina Kokaiji: made in [[Yamashiro province]] by Sanjô Kokaiji Munechika ([[Heian period]]). The sword is 29.7cm in length, and was later owned by the [[Toyotomi clan]], and then recovered from [[Osaka Campaigns|Osaka castle]] by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Extant today in the collection of the Tokugawa Art Museum.
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*The [[Ashikaga clan]] sword, Ebina Kokaiji: made in [[Yamashiro province]] by [[Sanjo Munechika|Sanjô Kokaiji Munechika]] ([[Heian period]]). The sword is 29.7cm in length, and was later owned by the [[Toyotomi clan]], and then recovered from [[Osaka Campaigns|Osaka castle]] by the [[Tokugawa shogunate]]. Extant today in the collection of the Tokugawa Art Museum.
  
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* [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru|Ashikaga Yoshiteru's]] sword : made by Osafune Nagamitsu (active 1264-1319). National Treasure. Nicknamed Daihannya (Great Wisdom Personified); changed hands several times as booty, reward or valued present. Amongst its owners were [[Miyoshi Chokei]], [[Miyoshi Yoshitsugu]], [[Oda Nobunaga]], [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], [[Okudaira Nobumasa]], and then the [[Matsudaira clan]]. [http://www.sho-shin.com/Nagamits.JPG Oshigata]
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* [[Ashikaga Yoshiteru|Ashikaga Yoshiteru's]] sword : made by [[Osafune Nagamitsu]] (active 1264-1319). National Treasure. Nicknamed Daihannya (Great Wisdom Personified); changed hands several times as booty, reward or valued present. Amongst its owners were [[Miyoshi Chokei]], [[Miyoshi Yoshitsugu]], [[Oda Nobunaga]], [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], [[Okudaira Nobumasa]], and then the [[Matsudaira clan]]. [http://www.sho-shin.com/Nagamits.JPG Oshigata]
  
 
* [[Chiyoganemaru]] - Japanese blade refitted with Ryukyuan furniture; associated with the [[Sho Dynasty|royal family]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. National Treasure.<ref>Gallery labels, Naha City Museum of History.</ref>
 
* [[Chiyoganemaru]] - Japanese blade refitted with Ryukyuan furniture; associated with the [[Sho Dynasty|royal family]] of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]]. National Treasure.<ref>Gallery labels, Naha City Museum of History.</ref>
  
 
* [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]]'s sword : made by Ryumon Nobuyoshi - (active 1317). National Treasure. [http://www.sho-shin.com/ryumon.JPG Oshigata]
 
* [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]]'s sword : made by Ryumon Nobuyoshi - (active 1317). National Treasure. [http://www.sho-shin.com/ryumon.JPG Oshigata]
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*Fudô Masamune, a Kamakura period ''[[tanto|tantô]]'' given by [[Maeda Toshinaga]] to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who in turn gave it to the [[Owari Tokugawa clan]]. It is now in the collection of the [[Tokugawa Art Museum]].<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 89.</ref>
  
 
* Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane, a 13th century ''uchigatana'' by the [[Kamakura period]] swordsmith Sukezane. Given to [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] as a gift from [[Kato Kiyomasa|Katô Kiyomasa]]; now held at [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]]. [[National Treasure]].
 
* Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane, a 13th century ''uchigatana'' by the [[Kamakura period]] swordsmith Sukezane. Given to [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] as a gift from [[Kato Kiyomasa|Katô Kiyomasa]]; now held at [[Nikko Toshogu|Nikkô Tôshôgû]]. [[National Treasure]].
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* [[Hosokawa Yusai|Hosokawa Yûsai's]] sword :  made by Bungo no Kuni Yukihira (active 987). National Treasure. [http://www.sho-shin.com/hosokawa.JPG Picture]  
 
* [[Hosokawa Yusai|Hosokawa Yûsai's]] sword :  made by Bungo no Kuni Yukihira (active 987). National Treasure. [http://www.sho-shin.com/hosokawa.JPG Picture]  
  
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* [[Ii Naomasa|Ii Naomasa's]] sword:  made by Rai Kunimitsu (debated if Jirôbe or Beijô,  active from 1312 or 1350) [http://www.sho-shin.com/naomasa.JPG Picture]
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* [[Ii Naomasa|Ii Naomasa's]] sword:  made by [[Rai Kunimitsu]] (third head of the [[Rai school]]<ref>"Rai Kunimitsu, Sword Blade," gallery label, LACMA.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/16314786572/sizes/h/]</ref>, debated if Jirôbe or Beijô,  active from 1312 or 1350) [http://www.sho-shin.com/naomasa.JPG Picture]
  
 
* Jiganemaru (治金丸) - a sword associated with the royal family of the Ryûkyû Kingdom. According to the ''[[Kyuyo|Kyûyô]]'', it was presented to King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] by [[Nakasone Toyomiya|Nakasone Tuyumya]] of [[Miyakojima]] in [[1522]]. The unsigned 15th century blade and the 17th century black [[lacquer]]ed furniture are believed to have been made in Japan; the hilt is wrapped in sharkskin, and the ''[[kozuka]]'' are decorated with designs of auspicious clouds. Today, held in the Naha City Museum of History.<ref>Naha City Museum of History, [http://www.rekishi-archive.city.naha.okinawa.jp/archives/item1/2059 Digital Museum], 2015.</ref>
 
* Jiganemaru (治金丸) - a sword associated with the royal family of the Ryûkyû Kingdom. According to the ''[[Kyuyo|Kyûyô]]'', it was presented to King [[Sho Shin|Shô Shin]] by [[Nakasone Toyomiya|Nakasone Tuyumya]] of [[Miyakojima]] in [[1522]]. The unsigned 15th century blade and the 17th century black [[lacquer]]ed furniture are believed to have been made in Japan; the hilt is wrapped in sharkskin, and the ''[[kozuka]]'' are decorated with designs of auspicious clouds. Today, held in the Naha City Museum of History.<ref>Naha City Museum of History, [http://www.rekishi-archive.city.naha.okinawa.jp/archives/item1/2059 Digital Museum], 2015.</ref>
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* A blade by [[Kunimune]] held at [[Terukuni Shrine]] in [[Kagoshima]]. Given to the shrine by [[Shimazu Tadashige]] in 1927, it is the only National Treasure held in [[Kagoshima prefecture]].<ref>"[http://www.shuseikan.jp/culture/culture10.html Terukuni jinja]," ''Shimazu-ke ga hagukunda bunka'', [[Shokoshuseikan|Shôkoshûseikan]] official website.</ref>
  
 
* [[Kuroda Yoshitaka|Kuroda Josui Yoshitaka's]] sword: made by Hasebe Kunishige (active 1334). National Treasure. This was amongst Oda Nobunaga's favorite swords. [http://www.sho-shin.com/kunishig.JPG Picture]
 
* [[Kuroda Yoshitaka|Kuroda Josui Yoshitaka's]] sword: made by Hasebe Kunishige (active 1334). National Treasure. This was amongst Oda Nobunaga's favorite swords. [http://www.sho-shin.com/kunishig.JPG Picture]
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*[[Tokugawa Ieshige]] and [[Tokugawa Ieharu|Ieharu's]] sword: made by Nobukuni (active 1334). This sword is an [[Tanto|Ô-tantô]], a large dagger. [http://www.sho-shin.com/nobukuni.JPG Oshigata]
 
*[[Tokugawa Ieshige]] and [[Tokugawa Ieharu|Ieharu's]] sword: made by Nobukuni (active 1334). This sword is an [[Tanto|Ô-tantô]], a large dagger. [http://www.sho-shin.com/nobukuni.JPG Oshigata]
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*Tomokirimaru, a sword owned by the man who killed the father of the [[Soga Monogatari|Soga brothers]]; in some versions of the story, he obtained this sword by stealing it from their father.<ref>Constantine Vaporis, "A Hero for the Masses: The Kabuki Play Sukeroku: Flower of Edo (1713)," in Vaporis (ed.), ''Voices of Early Modern Japan'', Westview Press (2012), 195-196.; James Brandon. ''Kabuki: Five Classic Plays''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1992. pp49-92.</ref>
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*A sword called Torigai Kunitoshi, made in the Kamakura period and lost in the [[battle of Sekigahara]]; it was recovered by [[Tomita Nobutaka]], who gave it as a gift to Tokugawa Ieyasu in [[1601]]. Ieyasu then gave the sword to the Owari Tokugawa clan, and it remains today in the [[Tokugawa Art Museum]].<ref>Pitelka, 81.</ref>
  
 
*The [[Toyotomi clan]] sword Ichigo Hitofuri, made by the [[Kamakura period]] smith Yoshimitsu. Recovered after the Osaka Campaigns by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].
 
*The [[Toyotomi clan]] sword Ichigo Hitofuri, made by the [[Kamakura period]] smith Yoshimitsu. Recovered after the Osaka Campaigns by [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]].

Latest revision as of 08:44, 2 December 2016

This page is a partial list of the most famous samurai swords, ordered by name of the owner. Most of those listed belonged to several owners during their history, and are today designated as National Treasures. In addition, note that while a given sword may be identified with a given historical figure, any given figure owned and used multiple swords over the course of their lives.

When a picture is not available, there is an oshigata, a professional drawing showing the details of the blade. Historical accuracy here is sometimes flexible due to the high esteem Japanese often hold for these items. Nicknames always refers to the sword, never to the smith.

A 13th century blade known as Fukuoka Ichimonji Sukezane, by the Kamakura period swordsmith Sukezane. Previously held by the Kii Tokugawa clan; now held at Tokyo National Museum. National Treasure.
  • Jiganemaru (治金丸) - a sword associated with the royal family of the Ryûkyû Kingdom. According to the Kyûyô, it was presented to King Shô Shin by Nakasone Tuyumya of Miyakojima in 1522. The unsigned 15th century blade and the 17th century black lacquered furniture are believed to have been made in Japan; the hilt is wrapped in sharkskin, and the kozuka are decorated with designs of auspicious clouds. Today, held in the Naha City Museum of History.[4]
  • Emperor Meiji's (favorite) sword : made by Ayanokoji Sadatoshi (active 1232). National Treasure. Picture
  • Minamoto no Yorimitsu's sword : made by Hoki Yasutsuna Daidô (active 806 - questioned) nicknamed Dôjigiri Yasutsuna ("Monster-Cutter Yasutsuna"). National Treasure. Picture
  • A blade called Nobeoka Mitsutada, forged around 1220 in Nobeoka, in modern-day Miyazaki prefecture. Long owned by the Naitô family of Nobeoka, it is believed stolen in 1946, and remains listed today on the FBI's National Stolen Art File.[6]
  • Shôtoku Taishi's sword : very early work, date debated. Horimono (carvings) gave it its nickname, "Heishishorin." Picture
  • Tomokirimaru, a sword owned by the man who killed the father of the Soga brothers; in some versions of the story, he obtained this sword by stealing it from their father.[7]
  • The Toyotomi clan sword Nansen, made by the Kamakura period smith Ichimonji. Recovered after the Osaka Campaigns by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
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References

  • Morgan Pitelka. "Art, Agency, and Networks in the Career of Tokugawa Ieyasu." in A Companion to Asian Art and Architecture. Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, 460.
  1. ↑ Gallery labels, Naha City Museum of History.
  2. ↑ Morgan Pitelka, Spectacular Accumulation, University of Hawaii Press (2016), 89.
  3. ↑ "Rai Kunimitsu, Sword Blade," gallery label, LACMA.[1]
  4. ↑ Naha City Museum of History, Digital Museum, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Terukuni jinja," Shimazu-ke ga hagukunda bunka, Shôkoshûseikan official website.
  6. ↑ FBI - NSAF - Nobeoka Mitsutada
  7. ↑ Constantine Vaporis, "A Hero for the Masses: The Kabuki Play Sukeroku: Flower of Edo (1713)," in Vaporis (ed.), Voices of Early Modern Japan, Westview Press (2012), 195-196.; James Brandon. Kabuki: Five Classic Plays. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1992. pp49-92.
  8. ↑ Pitelka, 81.
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