Swords in the Tenwa-Jokyo-Genroku Era (1681-1703): How the Shift from Martial to Civil Rule Transformed the Sword Market

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi and the Era of the "Dog Shogun"

The reign of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the fifth shogun of the Edo shogunate (r. 1680–1709), spanned 30 years across three era names: Tenna, Jokyo, and Genroku. Though Tsunayoshi protected dogs generously through the "Edict on Compassion for Living Things" and was mocked as the "Dog Shogun," his political influence on Japanese culture and society was multifaceted, and sword culture was no exception.

This article examines the transformation of sword culture during Tsunayoshi's reign through three axes: the decline of militarism, the rise of civil governance ideology, and economic background.

The Decline of Militarism and the "Hollowing Out" of the Sword

While previous shoguns emphasized "military might," Tsunayoshi promoted "civil governance ideology," prioritizing Confucianism, scholarship, and etiquette over military force. This policy shift brought subtle changes to the samurai's perspective on swords.

First, the meaning of bearing a sword shifted from practical to ceremonial. In the early Edo period, samurai carried swords as "instruments of military power," and functionally designed blades anticipated actual combat. However, as the Genroku period began and more than fifty years of peace continued, opportunities to draw the sword became virtually nonexistent, and bearing a sword became a ceremonial act signifying status.

The Edict on Compassion for Living Things (enforced 1685–1709) was primarily aimed at dog protection, but its underlying principle of "forbidding the taking of life" also affected samurai sword training as a martial art. As kenjutsu training in dojos became formalized and kata practice was redefined as part of etiquette, this accelerated the transformation of swords from "practical tools to cultural artifacts."

Genroku Culture and the Rise of "Ornamental Swords"

As samurai swords shifted from practical to ceremonial use, the artistic value of sword fittings (tsuba, menuki, fuchi-kashira, kogai, and such) surged dramatically. The Genroku period (1688–1704) was an age of economic prosperity and flourishing merchant culture in the Kansai region (Kyoto and Osaka). The sword fittings and ornamental sword culture of this period are explored further in detail at Genroku Culture and Swords: The Aesthetics of "Ornamental Swords" Nurtured in Peaceful Times.

Just as bold patterns called "Genroku designs" spread across kosode robes and obi sashes, the trend toward elaborate ornamentation on sword fittings intensified. Metalworkers and sculptors competed to produce intricate designs, and scenes even appeared where the artistry of tsuba and menuki was valued more than the blade itself.

This trend presented a complex problem for swordsmiths. Because sword value was increasingly judged by the lavishness of the koshirae (fittings) rather than the craftsman's technical skill, it created a market distortion that prioritized the production of "display swords" over improvements in quality as functional blades.

Regional Changes in Sword Production: From Bizen to Osaka and Edo

The center of sword production also changed at this time. Bizen (Okayama Prefecture), once a major sword-producing region, already showed signs of decline during the shinto period (early 17th century) and further diminished its position during the Genroku era.

In their place rose swordsmiths from Osaka and Edo. Osaka produced sharp, practical blades called "Osaka shinto" that met the demands of Osaka merchants as an economic center. Meanwhile, in Edo, swordsmiths appointed as official sword makers for the shogunal family and daimyo produced sophisticated works.

Among the prominent swordsmiths of Osaka during the Tenna and Jokyo eras were the successors of Tsuda Echizen-no-Kami Sukehiro, while the Genroku period saw the rise of swordsmiths in the line of Kawachi-no-Kami Kunisuke (second generation). These swordsmiths concentrated on "the beauty of the hamon" and "the quality of the jihada" rather than practicality, creating works of high aesthetic value.

Authenticating Characteristics of "Genroku Swords"

In modern sword authentication, certain common characteristics are recognized under the concept of "Genroku swords."

• Trends in sword profile: The curvature is shallow (shifting from moderate to shallow curve), blade length tends to be shorter, with many examples featuring thin construction emphasizing aesthetic elegance, and the kissaki tends to become slightly larger (shifting from moderate to large kissaki).
• Characteristics of the hamon: Osaka shinto-style swords often feature clear suguha-type hamon, while some Edo-school smiths adopted bold nodare patterns. This was also an era when fine and uniform nie creating distinct nioi-deki effects were favored.
• Quality of the jihada: Flowing itame and ko-itame grain patterns received aesthetic appreciation, and jihada rich in ji-nie that gleams when caught by light was highly prized.

The Repeal of the Edict on Compassion for Living Things and the Return to Swords in the Kyoho Era

When Tsunayoshi died in 1709, his successor, the sixth shogun Tokugawa Ienobu, immediately repealed the Edict on Compassion for Living Things. A call for the revival of militarism arose, and interest in swords renewed. The changes in sword culture during the immediately following Hoei and Shotoku eras are further explained in Sword Culture of the Hoei and Shotoku Eras (1704–1715).

As a counteraction, while Arai Hakuseki's "Shotoku administration" saw advances in Confucian etiquette, the Eighth Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune's "Kyoho Reforms" made the recovery of "respect for martial valor" a policy objective. The cultural foundation for collecting and preserving swords was built up during this Genroku period, and the flourishing of "celebrated sword collections" from the Kyoho era onward was a continuation of this trend.

Summary: The Legacy of Sword Culture Left by the Genroku Era

The sword culture of the Tenna, Jokyo, and Genroku eras (1681–1704) is positioned as the period that definitively established the transformation from "practical weapons" to "aesthetic cultural artifacts." Samurai sword-bearing became a ceremonial act, the artistry of sword fittings flourished, and standards for sword appreciation were established.

The "Genroku swords" produced by swordsmiths of this era are evaluated in modern authentication alongside their historical context. Understanding Tsunayoshi's era provides an indispensable perspective for comprehending swords not merely as weapons but as a nexus of history and culture.