* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Karyaku era (Karyaku 2 = 1327)Dated Swords of the Late Kamakura Period (Karyaku Inscriptions)
Karyaku Era
嘉暦（かりゃく）
Karyaku was a nengō of the late Kamakura period. A National Treasure tachi inscribed with a Karyaku date, held by the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore, is listed in the Cultural Heritage Online database. It is described as a joint work of Kagemitsu and Kagemasa of Osafune, Bizen Province.
- Period
- Karyaku era (Karyaku 2 = 1327)
- Sword Classification
- Dated Swords of the Late Kamakura Period (Karyaku Inscriptions)
Description
The Nengō "Karyaku"
Karyaku (嘉暦) was a nengō of the late Kamakura period. Karyaku 2 corresponds to 1327.
Swords Dated Karyaku
The Cultural Heritage Online database lists the following blades with a Karyaku date.
- A National Treasure tachi held by the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore. The inscription reads 「備前国長船住左兵衛尉景光、作者進士三郎景政、嘉暦二二年已巳七月日」. The entry describes it as a joint work of Kagemitsu of Osafune, Bizen Province, and Shinji Saburō Kagemasa, who is thought to have been among his followers. The inscription is said to show that Ōkawara Tanji Tokimoto commissioned it as a dedication. The period is Kamakura, the date is 1329, and the body length is 82.7 cm. It was designated an Important Cultural Property on 25 May 1937 and a National Treasure on 20 March 1954.
- A tanto held by the Tokyo National Museum, inscribed 「一嘉暦元年十月 日」.
Characteristics of This Era
- A National Treasure tachi with a Karyaku date (Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore; Cultural Heritage Online)
- Inscription: 「備前国長船住左兵衛尉景光、作者進士三郎景政、嘉暦二二年已巳七月日」
- A tanto inscribed with the Karyaku 1 date, Tokyo National Museum
Notable Swordsmiths
Sahyōe-jō Kagemitsu of Osafune, Bizen Province
Shinji Saburō Kagemasa (thought to be among Kagemitsu's followers)