Awataguchi Kunikiyo

粟田口国清

Period: Early Kamakura period
School: Awataguchi school
Active Years: Early 13th century (Kennin era)
Tradition: Yamashiro tradition
Rank: Saijōsaku

Description

Lineage

Awataguchi Kunikiyo was the fourth son of Kuniie, founder of the Awataguchi school, and is counted among the "Six Awataguchi Brothers." His common name was Shirōbyōe, and he is said to have been active during the Kennin era (c. 1201–1204).

Reputation

Sword reference works place him among the smiths of the highest rank of the kotō period (kotō saijō-saku), and he is regarded as a master of that caliber. Few of his signed works survive, but a tachi signed Kunikiyo that was passed down in the Satake family has been designated an Important Cultural Property and is held by the Fukuyama Museum of Art.

Standing

Together with his brothers Kunitomo, Hisakuni, Kuniyasu, Arikuni, and Kunitsuna, he formed the core of the Awataguchi school and is counted among the representative master smiths of the Yamashiro tradition of the early Kamakura period.