* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Daihannya Nagamitsu
大般若長光
Also known as: Great Prajñā
Description
Overview of the Sword
A National Treasure tachi celebrated as the supreme masterpiece of Osafune Nagamitsu, a renowned swordsmith of the mid-Kamakura period and representative of the Bizen Osafune school. With a blade length of 2 shaku 3 sun 1 bu (approximately 73.6 cm) and a curvature of approximately 3.0 cm, it displays a dignified tachi form, with broad width and solid cross-section exemplifying the ideal proportions of the mid-Kamakura period.
Forging Method and Characteristics
The steel exhibits the distinctive beauty characteristic of the Bizen tradition, with itame grain mixed with mokume patterns and vibrant utsuri markings. The blade pattern is the greatest highlight of Daihannya Nagamitsu, and the scene of its gorgeous large chōji-midare pattern blooming abundantly along the blade edge is recognized by all as a masterpiece representing the pinnacle of the Bizen chōji hamon tradition. With well-developed ashi and ha and a deep, bright, and gorgeous finish with refined nie-guchi, it exemplifies Nagamitsu's technical mastery and aesthetic sensibility at their highest level. The kissaki curves inward and returns in a small rounded form, and the tang, which has been polished, retains a two-character signature reading "Nagamitsu." The swordsmith Osafune Nagamitsu (dates of birth and death unknown; active in the latter half of the thirteenth century) was a blade-smith of Osafune in Bizen Province (present-day Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture), and together with his father Osafune Mitsutada, laid the foundation for the Osafune school. While Mitsutada was known for his bold and vigorous style, Nagamitsu specialized in the more elegant and refined chōji-midare blade pattern, elevating the artistry of the Bizen tradition to a higher plane. The origin of the name "Daihannya" lies in the extraordinary appraised value of 600 kan of copper coins assigned to this tachi during the Muromachi period. Since the Great Prajñāpāramitā Sutra comprises six hundred volumes in total, the name "Daihannya" came to be used through this wordplay linking 600 kan with the six hundred volumes. The value of 600 kan, when converted to modern monetary value, is said to correspond to hundreds of millions of yen, which demonstrates how highly this tachi was valued even in that era.
Provenance of the Sword
The provenance traces back to the Ashikaga shōguns, and throughout the Muromachi period it was treasured as a precious blade of the shōgunal house. Subsequently, it passed through the hands of successive rulers of the realm: Miyoshi Nagayoshi, Oda Nobunaga, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Current Ownership
Designated a National Treasure in 1951, it is currently housed in the Tokyo National Museum. Standing alongside Mikazuki Munechika as one of the two supreme treasures of the museum, it has become a "sacred site" for lovers of the Japanese sword.
Legends & Stories
## Legends and Anecdotes The transmission of Daihannya Nagamitsu traces the very course of power among the unifiers of Japan. ## Into the Hands of Warriors During the Muromachi period, this tachi was carefully preserved as a prized blade of the Ashikaga shogunate. It flowed out from the shogunal family during the upheaval of the Sengoku period. During the era of the thirteenth shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, it passed into the hands of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, the dominant figure in the Kinai region. After Nagayoshi's death, it is said to have come into the possession of Oda Nobunaga. At the Battle of Anegawa in Genki 1 (1570), Nobunaga highly commended the exploits of Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces in defeating the Asakura army, and in recognition of these achievements, he bestowed this Daihannya Nagamitsu upon Ieyasu. The Battle of Anegawa was a fierce clash between the Oda-Tokugawa allied forces and the Asai-Asakura allied forces—a pivotal engagement for Ieyasu, cementing his alliance with Nobunaga. That such a world-famous blade as Daihannya Nagamitsu was selected as the reward for these deeds eloquently testifies to the extraordinary value of this tachi. Ieyasu treasured this tachi for many years; later, as a reward for military service at the Battle of Nagashino, he bestowed it upon Okudaira Nobumasa, who had defended Nagashino Castle. Thereafter, it descended through the line of Matsudaira Tadaaki, Nobumasa's youngest son and Ieyasu's adopted heir, and his descendants (the Oshi domain of Musashi Province). From the Meiji period onward, it was designated a National Treasure and is now housed in the Tokyo National Museum. As the valuation of 600 kan demonstrates, Daihannya Nagamitsu was not merely a famous blade but possessed tremendous value as a material asset. For the great lords of the Sengoku period, celebrated swords were the highest honors alongside fiefs and instruments of diplomacy. Behind Daihannya Nagamitsu's passage among successive unifiers lay its overwhelming economic and cultural worth. Multiple works by Osafune Nagamitsu of Bizen are designated as National Treasures bearing the designation "two-character signature National Treasures"; among these, Daihannya Nagamitsu is acclaimed as the supreme masterpiece. The brilliant landscape created by the undulating hada in its blade pattern represents the pinnacle of Bizen tradition's aesthetic beauty and continues to captivate sword connoisseurs around the world. When displayed at the Tokyo National Museum, many visitors come specifically to witness its "East-West Yokozuna" pairing with Mikazuki Munechika, and it stands as the supreme attraction in Japanese sword exhibitions. In the game Touken Ranbu, it appears as a tachi character, depicted with the splendid magnificence befitting a sword valued at 600 kan.