* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Sōshū tradition; horimono (blade carving)Kotō (Old Swords)
Daishinbo Yukei
大進坊祐慶
Description
Origins
Daishinbo Yukei was a sword carver of the Kamakura period; his dates of birth and death are unknown.
Training
He is said to have studied under Shintōgo Kunimitsu, founder of the Sōshū tradition, and within Kunimitsu's circle he distinguished himself as a specialist in horimono (blade carving).
Master Carver
Yukei became renowned as a master of blade carving, and is said to have added carved decoration to works by his fellow disciples Masamune and Yukimitsu. He signed his work "Daishinbo Yukei" or simply "Daishinbo."
Reputation
Rather than being remembered primarily as a blade forger, he is distinguished by the fine carved decoration he applied to Sōshū-tradition swords, and he is regarded as one of the representative horimono carvers of the Sōshū tradition.