* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Tachi Signed Nobufusa
太刀 銘 信房作
Also known as: Ko-Bizen Nobufusa; held at the Chidō Museum; the tachi granted to Sakai Tadatsugu
Description
A Ko-Bizen Tachi by Nobufusa
Tachi Signed Nobufusa (with an accompanying itomaki-no-tachi mounting) is a work by Nobufusa, a swordsmith of the Ko-Bizen school active in Bizen Province in the late Heian period. It is a National Treasure held by the Chidō Museum in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, with a blade length of 76.1 cm and a curvature (sori) of 2.3 cm. It was designated a National Treasure on 29 March 1952, and its accompanying mounting is also included in the designation.
Granted by Tokugawa Ieyasu to Sakai Tadatsugu
The blade is said to have been awarded to Sakai Tadatsugu, the first head of the Sakai family of the Shōnai domain, by Tokugawa Ieyasu in recognition of his military service at the Battle of Komaki–Nagakute in 1584. It has been passed down within the Shōnai Sakai family ever since and is now held at the Chidō Museum, which is closely associated with that family.
Style
The blade's small kissaki (point), pronounced curvature, and the "koshi-zori funbari" form concentrated near the hilt well reflect the archaic style of the Heian period. The steel shows a fine itame grain with ji-nie and ji-fu, and the hamon is a small midare pattern rich in ashi and yō activity. It is counted among the representative works of the Ko-Bizen school and is known for retaining an especially elegant form.
Designation and Present Status
It is registered as a craft-work National Treasure in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' national treasure and important cultural property database, and remains preserved and displayed at the Chidō Museum.