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make swords using the methods of Koto time.
make swords using the methods of Koto time.
The characteristic of Shinshinto is it's wave of Hamon started from Machi
The characteristic of Shinshinto is it's wave of Hamon started from Machi
like Koto contrary to the vast majority of of Shinto Hamon that started
like Koto contrary to the vast majority of Shinto Hamon that started
straight from Machi and then waved ). Boshi also waved if Hamon on the blade
straight from Machi and then waved ). Boshi also waved if Hamon on the blade
waved, maintaining a sort of matching in styl all along the Hamon.
waved, maintaining a sort of matching in styl all along the Hamon.
As Sukehiro and Shinkai were highly praised by Kamada Natae in his book
As Sukehiro and Shinkai were highly praised by Kamada Natae in his book
wrote in this period swordsmiths begun to imitated their works making strong
wrote in this period swordsmiths begun to imitated their works making strong shape and Hamon in Toran-Ha. Swords in this period imitated the Osaka style.
shape and Hamon in Toran-Ha.
Then '''Masahide''' ( one of most famous sword smith in Shinshinto time ) advocated
in his book that "we should made swords by the method of Koto time." Whit this
final target swordsmiths begun to create their own steels trying to reach
the quality of the ancient one. Combining materials which have different
quantity of carbon,a good Jihada will appear. Therefore, swordsmiths
used a lot of materials like old nails and the like to adjust the quantity
of carbon to be suitable for swordmaking.Even today this steel is called
'''Oroshi-gane'''.
As already said an easy way to produce Tamahagane was available in
Shinto time and swordsmith could get good quality Tamahagane.
Therefore, it seems that most of them didn't make their own Oroshi-gane.
But some swordsmiths like '''Kotetsu''' or '''Hankei''' followed Masahide suggestions
and reached a top-quality level combining ancuient iron/steel with modern
one. in effect Ko-Tetsu means "ancient steel".
* Latter half of Shinshinto (1830 - 1913 )
Till to 1868 swords which more emphasized mighty shape were made in this
period. Mihaba is wide and the length is longer then the previous ones.
They look like the the Tachi in Nanbokucho. Sword smith tried to reproduce
the sword in Koto time as suggested by Masahide.
But from 1868 important political changes occurred and the production and
quality of swords were highly affected by them.
Tokugawa shogunate finally fell, and emperor '''Meiji''' took the power, began
the time of modernization known as Meiji restoration.
In order to modernize the nation Meiji Tenno needed to delete the ancient
classes and establish more modern ones. The samurai were deprived of their
old privileges - including the right to carry the Daisho, that has been
prerogative of their class for almost 250 years.
Nonetheless, Meiji Tenno can be considered a Nihonto lover and he took many
steps to preserve the ancient traditions in this art. His actions were
a mere necessity.