Kuwayama Mitsukane

桑山光包

Also known as: Rai Mitsukane / Chūdō-rai / Maeda family heirloom

Smith: Mitsukane (Rai Mitsukane, "Chūdō Rai")
Era: Late Kamakura period
Type: Tantō (dagger)
Location: Private collection

Description

A Tantō by the Smith Who Secluded Himself in the Chūdō

Kuwayama Mitsukane is a tantō by the smith Mitsukane, who was active in the late Kamakura period. Mitsukane is also said to have been an illegitimate son of Nagamitsu of the Bizen Osafune school. After studying under Rai Kunitoshi, who brought the Yamashiro Rai school to maturity, he moved to Ōmi Province, where he forged blades while secluded in the Konpon Chūdō of Enryaku-ji, and so he was also called "Chūdō Rai" or "Rai Mitsukane." The blade length is recorded as 8 sun 6.5 bu in the Kyōhō Meibutsuchō, and the tantō is unsigned.

From the Kuwayama House to the Maeda House

The name derives from the fact that Kuwayama Motoharu, son of Kuwayama Shigeharu, a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and lord of the Yamato Gosho domain, once possessed it. In 1629, Kuwayama Sadaharu died without an heir, and the Gosho domain was abolished. However, in recognition of his father Motoharu's services, his younger brother Kuwayama Hideharu was permitted the following year to succeed to the family name, and the Kuwayama house continued as hatamoto. As an expression of gratitude for this, Hideharu is said to have presented the heirloom blade to the retired shogun Tokugawa Hidetada. In 1636, the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu bestowed this blade on Maeda Toshitsune, second lord of the Kaga domain, in recognition of his services, and it has been passed down in the Maeda family since then.

Current Status

After the war, this tantō left the Maeda family, and it is now in private hands.

Legends & Stories

Succession and the Presentation of a Heirloom

Kuwayama Sadaharu, second lord of the Yamato Gosho domain, died without an heir, and the Gosho domain was abolished. However, in consideration of his father Motoharu's services, his younger brother Hideharu was permitted to succeed to the family name, and the Kuwayama house continued as hatamoto. As an expression of gratitude for this, Hideharu is said to have presented this Mitsukane tantō, an heirloom, to the retired shogun Tokugawa Hidetada.