Ichimonji Sukesada's Tachi

一文字助真の太刀

Also known as: Sukesada Tachi

Smith

Ichimonji Sukezane

Era

Mid-Kamakura Period (late 13th century)

Type

Tachi

Designation

National Treasure

Location

Tokyo National Museum

Description

Ichimonji Sukesada's tachi is a National Treasure exemplifying the Bizen Ichimonji school during the early Kamakura period, and was enshrined at Nikko Toshogu after being possessed by Tokugawa Ieyasu (currently on deposit at the Tokyo National Museum). Sukesada was a master craftsman of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school in Bizen Province during the mid-Kamakura period, renowned for his distinctive choji-midare hamon, which embodies the golden age of Bizen smithing. With a blade length of 71.2 cm and broad, vigorous proportions, it typifies the early Kamakura style. The striking choji-midare hamon, intensifying near the tsuba and extending across more than two-thirds of the blade, is celebrated as one of the supreme masterpieces in Japanese sword art history. Metallurgically, it represents the pinnacle of steel technology of its time, and sword researchers from throughout the country continue to visit and study it.

Legends & Stories

According to the legend preserved at Kasuga Grand Shrine, this tachi was forged and dedicated when Kasuga Daimyojin, the tutelary deity of the Fujiwara clan, appeared to Sukesada in a dream and commanded him to 'offer a sacred blade to this place.' The day after the sword was dedicated to Kasuga Shrine, a plague threatened to ravage the capital; however, when the shrine priest drew this blade before the sacred object and offered prayers, the plague ceased at once, according to tradition. Furthermore, the choji-midare hamon is said to embody 'the profusion of plum blossoms blooming at Kasuga,' and it has long been believed that the beauty of nature and divine grace are sealed within the blade.