NihontoWatchThis blade was signed by Jyounsai Hayama Enshin (浄雲斎羽山円真) in April, the 42th year of the Meiji era (1909). Enshin was born in the second year of the Koka era (1845: The Late Edo period) in Edo city. His birth name was Suzuki Masahiro. He learned sword-forging techniques from Suzuki Masao, an apprentice of Kiyomaro, one of the most famous swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. Enshin lived in Edo city while he was a Samurai from Toyohashi city (Aichi prefecture). Enshin was one of the most renowned swordsmiths during the Meiji-Taisho era, and he preferred to use Swiss carbon steel, while other swordsmiths used Tamahagane, traditional Japanese carbon steel. He was known as a master of using western carbon steel. He was excellent at making *Utsushi of famous Japanese swords such as Awataguchi Kuniyoshi (粟田口国吉). The shape of Nakago (tang) in his work is very peculiar, and it is called Kiji Momo Gata Nakago (雉子股型茎). You can see the sudden bump on the upper part of the Nakago. It was named after the fact that its shape resembles a pheasant’s thigh. In Japanese, pheasant is pronounced as Kiji, and thigh is Momo. This Nakago shape was often found in the Tachi blades forged in the Heian and Kamakura period. Kiji Momo Gata Nakago symbolizes famous swords in ancient times. When Enshin started his career, it was the end of the Edo period, when the military government of Samurai(Tokugawa Shogunate)controlled Japan, and feudal society was the norm. There was plenty of demand for weapons from Samurais back then. However, in 1868, there was a civil war between Tokugawa’s shogunate government and the new Meiji imperial government. After this battle, the Tokugawa shogunate was ousted, and the imperial government gained control. The whole feudal system was dismantled, and the new government took Samurai’s social status. The demand for Japanese swords decreased dramatically from the beginning of the Meiji era. Many swordsmiths lost their jobs or changed their career. However, Enshin kept forging swords to keep the tradition alive. He died at 75 on Feb 14th in the 9th year of the Taisho era. *Utsushi is a Japanese sword whose specification was based on historically famous swords, but it was made by a different swordsmith to pay respect to a renowned swordsmith. This blade is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token(特別保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK(Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:日本美術刀剣保存協会). Fuchi-Kashira It seems the surface of this Fuchi Kashira was initially decorated with golden inlay, probably with brass. About the design, we assume it is the Karakusa (唐草, arabesque) pattern. The Karakusa pattern is a design in which vine stems and leaves are twined and make curves. Since ivy has a strong vitality and grows up without interruption, people regarded this design as a symbol of prosperity and longevity. Vine is called the Tsuru (蔓) in Japanese, and it has another pronunciation; “Man.” There is a word 万 (it is also read Man), which means ten thousand. In the Karakusa pattern, leaves and vines are connected like Obi (帯, belt). The word “帯” can also be read “Tai.” Due to its pronunciation, the term “代 (Tai)” is associated. From this word-association game, an idiom 万代 is associated, and it means a thousand generations. In other words, we could imagine that people used this design wishing prosperity and longevity for their clans for a long time. Tsuka and Menuki While we are unsure about the model of each Menuki, we estimate its design is a combination of the Fujin (風神) and the Raijin (雷神). Their appearance looks divine because of their long, thin cloths painted in gold. According to Japanese myths, the Fujin controls the wind, and the Raijin controls thunder. Especially in Buddhist art, these two gods are depicted as a pair of beings. The Fujin creates a big wind from the Kazabukuro (風袋, a sac which the Fujin carries on his back) and blows it to the ground. And the Raijin rings drums on his back and causes thunder. Japan has been agriculturally advanced since ancient times. Even before Buddhism was introduced to this country from the continent, they prayed to the Fujin to calm storms or typhoons because these natural disasters caused significant damage to crops. Fujin festivals to soothe the wrath of the gods have been held in various places. This belief might have inspired this Menuki’s design. Tsuba and Habaki The design features a single chrysanthemum flower. Chrysanthemum petals radiate from the center of the Tsuba, making the Tsuba itself seem to be a single chrysanthemum. A long time ago, chrysanthemums were used as a medicine for obtaining a long life in the continent, and it was brought to Japan with this thought in the Nara period (648-781). The chrysanthemum symbolizes autumn, and people have greatly appreciated it since ancient times. This palnt has been likened to the sun as its petals form radially. That is why this flower pattern is treated as the symbol of perpetual youth and longevity or good health. Authentication Paper They authenticated the blade on March 10th in the 5th year of Reiwa (2023). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society.
Enshin圓眞
Offered by Samurai Museum
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Musashi · around 1868-1912
Fujishiro Chu-jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 87%
5 pieces on the market now
Shōwa to the present: destruction and revival
The twentieth century nearly killed the craft twice: wartime distortion, then the occupation ban. The NBTHK’s founding in 1948 and licensed forging from 1953 rebuilt the sword as an art, crowned by Living National Treasures and the mukansa rank.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteReturns/exchanges limited to defects caused by shipping (except willful misconduct or gross negligence by the company); customers must contact within 72 hours of receiving the product.