* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Tachi Signed Kanenaga
太刀 銘 兼永
Also known as: Gojō Kanenaga; a tachi of the old-Kyoto (kokyō-mono) tradition; held at the Japanese Sword Museum
Description
A Tachi by Gojō Kanenaga
Tachi Signed Kanenaga is a work attributed to the swordsmith Kanenaga, who is said to have resided in the Gojō district of Kyoto during the late Heian period. It is an Important Cultural Property held by the Japanese Sword Museum (operated by the NBTHK) in Sumida, Tokyo, with a blade length of 77.1 cm. Kanenaga, also known as Gojō Kanenaga, is positioned within the lineage of the Sanjō school founded by Sanjō Munechika; the Sanjō and Gojō schools were among the earliest groups of swordsmiths to work in the heart of the Heian capital, and are regarded as representative of the formative period of the Japanese sword.
Style and Assessment
According to the Japanese Sword Museum's own description, the blade displays an elegant form and calm ji-ba (grain and temper) characteristic of "kokyō-mono" — old works produced in the Heian capital — and is a valuable piece that has retained the appearance it had at the time of its creation. It exemplifies the slender build and pronounced koshi-zori (curve concentrated near the hilt) shared by the early Kyoto swordsmiths' output.
Designation and Present Status
The sword is designated an Important Cultural Property and is presently held and studied as part of the Japanese Sword Museum's collection, which also includes National Treasures, with items rotated on and off display over time.