Masamune
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- This article is about the swordsmith. For the video game weapon, see Masamune (video game weapon).
Masamune Okazaki<ref>Masamunes family name</ref> (正宗), also known as Goro Niudo Masamune (Priest Goro Masamune)<ref name="Hachiwara">Hachiwara with the enscription "Priest Goro Masamune made this"</ref>, is widely recognized as Japan's greatest swordsmith. As no exact dates are known for Masamune's life, he has reached an almost legendary status. However it is generally agreed that he made most of his swords in the early-to-mid 1300s, 1288 - 1328. He created swords, known as katana in Japanese and daggers called tantō, in the Soshu tradition. He is believed to have lived and worked in the Sagami Province<ref>The Legend of Masamune Sword Smith</ref>. An award for swordsmiths exists called the Masamune prize which is awarded at the Japanese Sword Making Competition. Although not awarded every year it is presented to a swordsmith who has created an exceptional work.<ref>Japanese Sword Making Competition THE MIYAIRI SCHOOL</ref>
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[edit] Style
The swords of Masamune have a reputation for superior beauty and quality, remarkable in a period where the steel necessary for swords was often impure. He is considered to have brought the art of 'nie' (martensitic crystals embedded in pearlite matrix, thought to resemble stars in the night sky) to its perfection.
Masamune studied under Shintogo Kunimitsu (also called Yukimitsu) and made blades in suguha (straight temper line) but he made magnificent notare hamon, where the leading edge of blade slowly undulates where it was quenched Image. There are also some blades with ko-midare (small irregularities) which appears to have been copied from the Old Bizen and Hoki Province styles. His works are well characterized by rich chikei (clear grey lines on the leading edge) and kinsuji (lines like lightning streaking across the blade), and beautiful nie a grey shadow on the front of the blade caused by quenching.
Swords created by Masamune often are referred to with the smith's name (much the same way that other pieces of artwork are), often with a name for the individual sword as well. The Honjo Masamune, a symbol of the Tokugawa shogunate and passed down from one shogun to another, is perhaps the best known Masamune sword.
Signed works of Masamune are rare. The examples "Fudo Masamune", "Kyogoku Masamune", and "Daikoku Masamune" are acceptable as his genuine works. Judging from his style, he was active from the late Kamakura era to the Nanboku-cho era.
His swords are the most frequently cited among those listed in the Kyôho Meibutsu Cho<ref name=MasaHist>http://internal.tbi.net/~max/ff9ref2.htm History of Masamune by Jim Kurrasch</ref>, a catalogue of excellent swords in the collections of daimyos edited during the Kyoho era by Hon-ami. The book was created on the orders of the Tokugawa Yoshimune of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1714 and consists of three books. The first book known as the Nihon Sansaku is a list of the three greatest sword smiths in the eyes of Toyotomi Hideyoshi including Etchu Matsukura Go Umanosuke Yoshihiro, Awataguchi Toshiro Yoshimitsu, and lists 41 blades by Goro Nyudo Masamune. The three books list 61 blades by Masamune. There are far more blades listed for Masamune than the other two sword smiths combined, its known that Hideyoshi had a passion for Soshu sword smiths which may explain this. A third of all swords listed are Soshu blades by many of the greatest Soshu masters including Masamunes students.
The few works of Masamune that remain all have the legal status either as Japan's national treasures or part of the imperial regalia. Of these, about half are short tantō, half are standard length katanas. Of the katanas, roughly half were originally constructed as the longer No-dachi, but were shortened in later generations to their current lengths.
[edit] Comparison with Muramasa
The swords of Masamune are often contrasted with those of Muramasa, another Japanese swordsmith. Muramasa has alternatively been described (incorrectly) as a full contemporary of Masamune, or as Masamune's student. Since Muramasa dated his work, it is known he worked right around 1500 AD, and as such he lived too late to have met Masamune. In legend and fantasy, Muramasa's blades are described as bloodthirsty or evil while Masamune's are considered the mark of an internally peaceful and calm warrior.
[edit] Legends of Masamune and Muramasa
A legend tells of a test where Muramasa challenged his master, Masamune to see who could make a finer sword. They both worked and worked and eventually, when both swords were finished, they decided to test the results. The contest was for each to suspend the blades in a small creek with the cutting edge facing the current. Muramasa's sword cut everything that passed its way; fish, leaves floating down the river, the very air which blew on it. Highly impressed with his pupil's work, Masamune lowered his sword into the current and waited patiently. Not a leaf was cut, the fish swam right up to it, and the air hissed as it gently blew by the blade. After a while, Muramasa began to scoff at his master for his apparent lack of skill in his making of his sword. Smiling to himself, Masamune pulls up his sword, dries it, and sheathes it. All the while, Muramasa was heckling him for his sword's inability to cut anything. A monk, who had been watching the whole ordeal, walked over and bowed low to the two sword masters. He then began to explain what he had seen.
- "The first of the swords was by all accounts a fine sword, however it is a blood thirsty, evil blade as it doesn't discriminate as to who or what it will cut. It may just as well be cutting down butterflies as severing heads. The second was by far the finer of the two, as it doesn't needlessly cut that which is innocent and undeserving."
In another account of the story, both blades cut the leaves that went down on the river's current equally well, but the leaves would stick to the blade of Muramasa whereas they would slip on past Masamune's after being sliced. Or alternatively both leaves were cut, but those cut by Masamune's blade would reform as it traveled down the stream. Yet another version has leaves being sliced by Muramasa's blade while the leaves were repelled by Masamune's.
In yet another story Muramasa and Masamune were summoned to make swords for the Shogun or Emperor and the finished swords were held in a waterfall. The result is the same as the other stories, and Masamune's swords are deemed holy swords. In one version of the story Muramasa is killed for creating evil swords.
While all known legends of the two ever having met are historically impossible, both smiths are widely regarded as symbols for their respective eras.
[edit] Masamune in Pop Culture
Masamune has been featured as a sword, often one of the most powerful variety, in many role-playing games. This includes, but is not limited to, the Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy series of videogames<ref>Origins of the Masamune Blade in Final Fantasy</ref>.
In the movie Highlander, the katana weilded by Ramírez and later by Connor MacLeod was said to have been forged by Masamune, the father of one of his wives in 593BC.
[edit] Students
Masamune is believed to have trained a great number of sword smiths, 15 are known, 10 of which are considered to be the Juttetsu or 'Ten Famous Students' or "10 Great Disciples of Masamune".
[edit] Great Juttetsu
[edit] Chogi
(備州長船住長義作 - Bishu Osafune Ju Chogi Saku) (備前國長船住長義 - Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Chogi)
Although probably not a direct student of Masamune<ref name="JSSUS">The Japanese Sword Society of the United States</ref> due to the dates when he was forging. His works are greatly influenced by Masamunes work and the Soshu tradition as well as the work of the Soden Bizen swordsmiths.
[edit] Kanemitsu
(備前國長船住兼光 - Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Kanemitsu) (備州長船住兼光 - bishu osafune ju kanemitsu) (備前國長船住左衛門尉藤原兼光 - bizen kuni osafune ju saemonjo fujiwara kanemitsu)
Considered to have created the sharpest swords ever known<ref name="JSSUS"/>, producing swords for many great men and generals. Another student who most likely wasn't taught by Masamune directly but was influenced by the Soshu and Soden Bizen revolution.
[edit] Shizu Saburo Kaneuji
(兼氏 - Kaneuji)
Lived in Yamato province before going to Mino to study under Masamune where his style radically changed. His swords are most like those of Masamune and quite often confused with his. The Mishina school can trace its history back to Kaneuji and through him back to Masamune.<ref>Mishina School</ref>
[edit] Kinju
(金重)
Kinju along with Kaneuji are founders of the Mino style. He was a monk at the Seisen-ji in Tsuruga, he led to the creation of Echizen sword making like Kuniyuki, moving to Mino around the time of Ryakuo (1338-1342) creating the Seki tradition.<ref name=UNNT>Ura Nihon no Toko By Yoshikawa Kentaro</ref>
[edit] Kunishige
(長谷部国重 - Hasebe Kunishige)
Created the Hasebe school producing swords in the style of the second period of Soshu and Yamashiro. His swords are considered by some to be equal to Akihiro and Hiromitsu. He created the Heshikiri Hasebe Image (The Forceful Cutter) listed in the Kyoho Meibutsu Cho, owned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and then Oda Nobunaga. It bares a gold appraisal inlay of Honami Kotoku called a Kinzogan (金象嵌). Today the sword is a family heirloom of the Kuroda Daimyo Ke. The sword takes its name from the story of Oda Nobunaga drawing it to cut through a table to kill Kannai, a tea master who betrayed him.
[edit] Kunitsugu
(来源国次 - Rai Minamoto Kunitsugu)
Also goes by the name Kamakura Rai as he is the grandson of Rai Kuniyuki. The influence of the Soshu and Yamashiro traditions can be observed in his works.
[edit] Saemonzaburo
(左 - Sa) (筑州左 - Chikushu Sa) (筑前國住左 - Chikuzen Kuni Ju Sa)
Believed to go by the name Yasuyoshi but signed his work using the first two letters of his given name. Considered by some to be one of the greatest of Masamunes students. As well as being a Soshu swordsmith he was also created the Chikuzen tradition.
[edit] Hikoshiro Hiromitsu/Soshu Sadamune
(相模國住人貞宗 - Sagami Kuni Junin Sadamune)
The son or adopted son of Masamune and perhaps the greatest of the ten Juttetsu.
[edit] Yoshihiro
Very few works exist by this swordsmith due to his death at the young age of 25, No known signed works exist. He is believed to have gone by the names of Go Yoshihiro or simply Go. As well as being a Soshu sword smith he is a member of the Etchu tradition.
[edit] Naotsuna
(石州出羽直綱作 - Sekishu Dewa Naotsuna Saku) (直綱作 - Naotsuna Saku)
Many theories exist that he may in fact have been a student of Saemonzaburo among others. His work is considered by many to have been infleunced by Soshu even if not taught by Masamune directly, he is also influenced by the Soden Bizen and Iwami style.
[edit] Other Students
- Fuji
- Tomishi
- Hiromitsu (相模國住人廣光 - Sagami Kuni Junin Hiromitsu) - Along with Akihiro brought about the second period of the Soshu style.
- Norishige - A student of Soshu Yukimitsu who later studied under Masamune.<ref name=UNNT/> his full name is Saeki Norishige. He was also a student in the Etchu tradition.
- Akihiro (相州住秋廣 - Soshu Ju Akihiro) (相模國住人秋廣 - Sagami Kuni Junin Akihiro) - A direct student of Masamune, along with Hiromitsu was responsible for refineing the Soshu style to create the Soshu second period.
[edit] Swords
[edit] Honjo Masamune
The Honjo Masamune<ref name=MasaHist/> is a katana, a Japanese sword most commonly carried by samurai. This specific katana was a symbol of the Tokugawa shogunate and had been passed down from one shogun to another. It is perhaps the best known of the swords created by the 14th-century master sword-smith Masamune and to be one of the finest katanas ever made. The name Honjô possibly came about due to this swords connection to the general Honjo Shigenaga 本庄越前守重長 (Honjô "Echizen no kami" Shigenaga) who gained the sword in battle.
Honjo Shigenaga a general of Uesugi Kenshin<ref name=MasaHist/> in the 16th century was attacked by Umanosuke who already possessed a number of trophy heads. He was attacked with the Honjo Masamune which split his helmet. The blade had a number of chips from the great battle but was still usable. The blade was kept by Shigenaga until he was sent to Fushimi Castle, Bunroku around 1592 - 1595. Shigenaga ran out of funds and was forced to sell the sword to Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Toyotomi Hideyoshis nephew and retainer. It was bought for 13 Mai, 13 O-Ban, which was 13 large gold coins. The blade was later valued in the Kyoho Meibutsu Cho at 1,000 Mai.
Hyogo Yoshihiro had possession of the blade which was given to Tokugawa Yorinobu and when he retired in 1667 it was given to Tokugawa Ieyasu. The blade passed down though each Shogun as part of his ceremony, it went to Tokugawa Hidetada then passed down through thirteen others until it reached Tokugawa Iesato before reaching Tokugawa Iemasa.
A story exists that Tokugawa Iemasa, a direct descendant of the Tokugawa shogunate, gave the Honjo Masamune and 14 other swords to a police station at Mejiro in December of 1945. Shortly thereafter in January 1946, the Mejiro police gave these swords to Sgt. Coldy Bimore (U.S. 7th Cavalry)<ref>Honjo Masamune where is it now?</ref>. Tokugawa Iemasa was alive during the time period of the Second World War. The 7th Cavalry was in Japan during 1945 and 1949 as a Japanese Occupation Force so its not impossible that the sword would end up in America but no concrete evidence has been referenced to prove or disprove this theory.
[edit] Fudo Masamune
As previously mentioned this is one of the few blades signed by Masamune that is not in question. It was bought by Lord Hidetsugu<ref name=MasaHist/> in 1601 for 500 Kan ([1]) and was passed to Shogun Ieyasu, Lord Toshiie. Lord Toshitsune presented it to Lord Ieyasu possibly on his retirement being handed down to Owari Tokugawa. This blade is a tantō approximately 25 cm (8 sun 6.5 bun) with a carving of roots on the Omote (Front, outer edge) side. It also has chopstick like grooves (Gomabashi 護摩箸) on the back and a Dragon at the ura part of blade (Kurikara 倶利伽羅). The blade features an engraving of Fudo Miyo the Buddhist deity which gives this blade its name<ref name="swordpics">Site containing pictures of his blades and a portrait of Masamune</ref>.
[edit] Hocho Sukashi Masamune
This is a tantō<ref name="swordpics"/> (Hocho) that is 21.8cm long unlike many tantôs attributed to Masamune this is not slim or elegant. It has led to this type of knife to be called a Masamune kitchen knife. The blade has a Gomabashi in cutout (Sukashi). It was restored around 1919 and sold for approximately 10 Hiki which was worth around 14¢ US at the time. Even taking inflation into account the price is still amazingly low. It is presently on display in the Tokugawa Art Museum[2].
[edit] Kotegiri Masamune
Kotegiri or Kote giri is a kendo strike to the wrist<ref>Kote giri</ref>, the reason for the choice of name comes from this Katana being used by Asakura Ujikage<ref name=MasaHist/> to cut the steel mail off an opposing Samurais arm in the battle of Toji in Kyôto. Oda Nobunaga gained possession of this sword and had it shortened to its present length. In 1615 it eventually passed down to the Maeda clan who in 1882 presented it as a gift to Emperor Meiji who was a known sword collector.
[edit] Helmet Breaker
A fascinating blade<ref name="Hachiwara"/> inscribed by Masamune and is purported to read
- Made by the Japanese Swordsmith
- Priest Goro Masamune made this
- A lucky day in the first month of the first year of Genko (1331)
- Made for Kusunoki Masanari
[edit] References
<references/>
[edit] External Links
- Masamune: A genius sword smith and his lineage By Robert L. Benson, Jr
- Glossary of Terms
- Masamune and the ten disciples
