Katana: Mumei (unsigned) attributed as Ko-Mihara
2017/01/04
Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Paper)
Signature : Mumei (unsigned) attributed as Ko-Mihara
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijo saku, Jojo saku, Jo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jo saku ranking.
The blade is polished.
Habaki : Single copper Habaki.
Blade length : 69.5 cm or 27.4 inches.
Sori : 1.0 cm or 0.39 inches.
Mekugi : 2
Width at the Hamachi : 2.89 cm or 1.14 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 1.95 cm or 0.75 inches.
Kasane : 0.66 cm or 0.26 inches.
Era : Around later Kamakura to early Nanbokucho period.
Shape : Regular size Osuriage Mumei Katana with balanced curve.
Jigane : Itame-hada well grained with Jinie attach. Utsuri appears on clear Jigane.
Hamon : Ko-Nie Deki, Suguha with tiny Ashi working. Boshi turns round shape.
Special feature : This blade is estimated as ‘Ko-Mihara’ by NBTHK at 2008, and then ‘Yamato-Senjuin’ by Kurasiki Token museum. We are thinking that this blade may be the most primitive style of Mihara blades.
At Kamakura period, some lands at Bingo province were brought under cultivation to become a manor of the temples in Yamato province.
At this ages, some Yamato-den swordsmiths moved to Bingo province to forge the blades by using iron produced from this area. They probably became the founder of Ko-Mihara school.
Ko-Mihara school got relationship with Aoe school in Bichu province and studied each other. Mihara school continued up to later Muromachi period.
This blade shoud be one of the good document to research about transition of mysterious Mihara school.
NBTHK Hozon Paper
Kurashiki Token museum paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
Price : JPY ¥450,000-.
