* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Sukekane
助包
Also known as: Tachi signed Sukekane; Ko-Bizen Sukekane; sword of Shinonome Shrine
- Smith
- Sukekane (Bizen Province)
- Era
- Kamakura period
- Type
- Tachi
- Designation
- Important Cultural Property
- Location
- Owned by Shinonome Shrine, kept at the Ehime Prefectural Museum of Art (Matsuyama, Ehime)
Description
Surviving Works of Sukekane of Bizen
Sukekane was a swordsmith of Bizen Province (present-day eastern Okayama Prefecture). This tachi, signed "Sukekane," dates from the Kamakura period. The Agency for Cultural Affairs identifies it as one of the few surviving works of the Bizen Ichimonji school, while Matsuyama City and Ehime Prefecture, the local governments, identify it as one of the few surviving works of Ko-Bizen. It was designated by the national government on April 4, 1928 (Shōwa 3), and under the current system it is an Important Cultural Property (craft work), dated August 29, 1950.
Craftsmanship
The blade length is 72.8 cm, with a curvature (sori) of 2.5 cm. It is shinogi-zukuri with an iori mune, and it displays a tachi form with high curvature and a sturdy stance. The jigane is itame mixed with mokume, with abundant ji-nie. The hamon is a small midare in nie-deki, with choji utsuri standing out. The nakago is not ubu but has been suriage, and it has four mekugi-ana. The signature, two characters reading "Sukekane," is carved on it.
Provenance
According to tradition, the tachi was received from Toyotomi Hideyoshi by Yamamoto Yoshizumi, a Matsuyama domain retainer (father of Yamamoto Gonbē Yoshiyasu, also a Matsuyama domain retainer). A descendant of his, Yamamoto Yoshihiro, dedicated this tachi to Shinonome Shrine in Matsuyama in 1881 (Meiji 14), and it has since been handed down as a holding of the shrine. It is now kept and displayed at the Ehime Prefectural Museum of Art in Horinouchi, Matsuyama.
Significance
The Ko-Bizen school was a branch representing the early phase of the Bizen Tradition, which is regarded as one of the origins of Japanese swords, and firmly signed surviving works from this school are themselves scarce. The Ichimonji school is a Bizen school that flourished in the Kamakura period following this one. Apart from this tachi, a sword signed Sukekane held by the Tokyo National Museum is also designated an Important Cultural Property. Surviving works are few, however, and they are valuable records conveying the style of Bizen swords of the Kamakura period.
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