* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Sword Culture of the Nanbu and Tsugaru Domains
南部藩・津軽藩の刀剣文化
The sword culture of the Nanbu (Morioka) and Tsugaru (Hirosaki) domains in northern Ou during the Edo period. The Nanbu family handed down the National Treasure 'Kikko Sadamune' and the Imperial Household's 'Doyo Ichimonji', while Tsugaru preserves works by local smiths such as Kunihiro, retained by the 4th Hirosaki lord Nobumasa, as Aomori Prefectural Treasures.
Description
Two Domains of Northern Ou
In the Edo period, northern Ou had two domains: Nanbu, based at Morioka, and Tsugaru (Hirosaki domain), based at Hirosaki. This entry is limited to cases that can be confirmed from public sources.
Famous Blades of the Nanbu Family
The Nanbu family owned the 'Katana, unsigned Sadamune (meibutsu Kikko Sadamune)', attributed to Sadamune, a smith of Soshu working from the late Kamakura to the Nanboku-cho period. Accounts differ on how it came to Nanbu Yukinobu. In 1698 (Genroku 11), in preparation for Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's visit to the Owari residence, the Owari Tokugawa family asked the Nanbu to hand it over, and the Nanbu agreed. The sword then passed to the Tokugawa shogunal house, was designated a National Treasure in 1965, and is now held by the Tokyo National Museum.
The Transmission of Doyo Ichimonji
In return, the Nanbu family received from Owari a Kamakura-period tachi of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school (signed only 'Ichi') and a tanto by Ayanokoji Yukimitsu. The tachi is known as 'Doyo Ichimonji'; the Nanbu continued to keep it as a family treasure after the Meiji Restoration. In 1928 Nanbu Toshiatsu presented it to the Showa Emperor, and it is now an Imperial Household treasure.
Swordsmiths of Tsugaru
In Tsugaru, Morimune, Kuniyoshi and Kunihiro are called the 'three great Tsugaru smiths'. Morimune came from Echizen, was invited by the Namioka Kitabatake clan to Namioka, and is said to have forged blades there between the Meio and Kyoroku eras (1492-1532); the line is said to have continued for 13 generations until the abolition of sword-wearing. Kunihiro was retained in 1683 (Tenna 3) by Nobumasa, the 4th lord of Hirosaki.
Surviving Works as Prefectural Treasures
Kunihiro's tanto signed 'Oshu Tsugaru-ju Kunihiro' is thought to date from the Genroku era (1688-1704) and was designated an Aomori Prefectural Treasure in 1966. It is owned by Hirosaki City and kept at the Takaoka no Mori Hirosaki Domain History Museum. At Iwakisan Shrine in Hirosaki there is also a sword signed 'Soshu-ju Tsunahiro', designated a prefectural treasure along with a tanto signed 'Namioka Morimune' (privately owned).
Characteristics of This Era
- The Nanbu family held the National Treasure 'Kikko Sadamune' and the Imperial 'Doyo Ichimonji'
- A sword exchange with the Owari Tokugawa family in 1698 (Genroku 11)
- The 'three great Tsugaru smiths' (Morimune, Kuniyoshi, Kunihiro) and surviving Prefectural Treasures