Hōen Period

The Hōen period is a brief span from 1135 to 13 August 1141 (Hōen 7, 7th month, 10th day) in the late Heian period. This era corresponds to the time when Ko-Bizen school smiths were active, and it was an age when swords produced in Bizen Province (present-day Okayama Prefecture) were highly prized.

Ko-Bizen School Smiths

Representative Ko-Bizen school smiths include Bizen Tomonari, Bizen Masatsune, and Bizen Kanehira. Ko-Bizen swords are characterized by elegant, slender forms, small kissaki (points), and narrow hamon (ko-chōji midare), and are notable for beautiful shinogi-ji hada.

Development of Sword Style

The Hōen period was an important stage of development in sword style during the transition from the Heian to the Kamakura period. Swords of this period show the shift from Heian-period kotō to Kamakura-period kotō, and had a major influence on the later formation of the Goden (Five Traditions). In particular, the Bizen tradition was being established through the ingenuity of the smiths of this period.

Social Background

The Hōen period was the height of the insei period, an era when the political influence of the retired emperor Toba Jōkō was strong. With the growth of the warrior class, demand for swords rose, and the technical advancement of smiths was promoted.