Detail
| Cultural Resources Category | Crafts |
|---|---|
| Cultural Properties Category | National Designation (National Treasures) Tangible Cultural Properties (Crafts) |
| Title | Odachi (Signed) Bishu Osafune Tomomitsu (February, 1366) Nodachi Sword Mounting |
| Designation Date | 1953/03/31 |
| Cities / Towns | Nikko |
| Owner / Manager | Nikko Futarasan Shrine |
| Description | Odachi Named “Bishu Osafune Tomomitsu” Length 126 cm, curvature 5.8 cm, base width 4.5 cm, tip width 3.6 cm, one mekugi hole Named on the front "Bishu Osafune Tomomitsu" and on the back “dated February 1366, Nanbokucho period” Attached Nodachi sword mounting The sword is made of Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, the blade’s body is long and wide, has a high warped tip, and has a large spearhead. The forging style is itame-hada, ji-nie with an array of steel particles (chikei), and a distinctive midare-utsuri. The hamon is gunome with a clove pattern (choji) on the both front and back sides of the lower half, ashi and yo patterns also can be seen, and the temper line is tight with ko-nie. The boshi part has midare with a slight hakikake (tracing of a broom mark) and gives a strong-pointy reflection. On the front, it has a continuous straight groove with “kurikara” inscription at the bottom, and on the back, it also has a continuous straight groove with “bonji (sanscrit)” inscription. Ubu blade in the middle, kurijiri-shape at the tip, with downward to the right filing (katte-sagari-yasurime). There is a small inscription "Bishu Osafune Tomomitsu" on the front side of the sword, and the last character “mitsu” is a little worn and unclear, and on the back “February 1366”. This sword is a masterpiece of Tomomitsu, who is said to have been a follower of Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu. Long swords like this, called nodachi or seoidachi (back-carried sword), were popular during the Nanbokucho period, but a sword as sound and magnificent as this one is rare, and is considered the best odachi in Japan. The accompanying nodachi sword mounting is no later than that of the Muromachi period, with steel fittings, trowels, and other metal fittings made of yamagane, and it is an excellent production. The hilt is wrapped in Japanese brocade (nishiki) with the "menuki" (a small piece of wood) underneath and is wrapped in a flat scroll. The scabbard was originally made of black lacquer but was later repainted in vermilion lacquer. The history of its origin is unknown, but it is thought to have been donated by a powerful family in the Kanto region during the Middle Ages. |
| Copyright | 著作権あり |
