Hatakeda Moriie

The Golden Age of Bizen Swords and the Rise of the Hatakeda School

In the middle of the Kamakura period (mid-13th century), sword production in Bizen Province (present-day Okayama Prefecture) enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Amid competition among the Osafune school, foremost among them, the Fukuoka Ichimonji school, and the Katayama Ichimonji school, the Hatakeda school has also carved its name into sword history as an important school representing Bizen swords of this era.

Hatakeda Moriie is the foremost swordsmith of the Hatakeda school, and was active at the same time as the peak of the Fukuoka Ichimonji school. Even today, several of Moriie's tachi are designated Important Cultural Properties, and they are highly valued as works that show the highest standard of Bizen swords of the Kamakura period.

Characteristics of Hatakeda Moriie's Style

The most important characteristic that distinguishes Moriie's swords from those of other Bizen smiths is the refinement of their forging. The jigane shows itame-hada that is somewhat raised, and midare-utsuri stands out.

In the hamon, the typical composition centers on chōji-midare, mixed with gunome and ko-midare. The ashi along the habuchi are fine, and yō sometimes appear. Within the chōji as well, the variation of nie is rich.

The bōshi often feature ko-maru-gaeri, and the work from the hamachi to the bōshi maintains a consistent sense of tension. The nakago is large, and many examples are signed with the two-character signature "Moriie." Some carry a long signature, "Bizen no Kuni Osafune-jū Moriie," and these suggest that Moriie may have had connections with Osafune from Hatakeda (also said to be near Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture).

Notable Surviving Works

Moriie's most renowned representative work is the Important Cultural Property tachi signed "Bizen no Kuni Osafune-jū Moriie," held by the Tokugawa Art Museum. Its perfect harmony of elegant form and splendid chōji hamon is said to show the essence of Bizen swords of the Kamakura period. Other Moriie tachi held by the Eisei Bunko Museum, the Tsuchiura City Museum, and the Amashin Kaikan are also designated Important Cultural Properties.

Many Moriie tachi handed down at shrines and temples and in former daimyō families across the country have also been transmitted together with aged kanagu and koshirae. Today they are carefully preserved as embodiments of the value of the Japanese sword as the essence of warrior culture.

Lineage of the Hatakeda School and Its Significance in Bizen Sword History

Moriie's name was carried on by a second generation. The second-generation Moriie was active in the Osafune school around the Bun'ei to Kōan eras (1264–1288). The aesthetic direction of Bizen swords opened up by Moriie's works, namely "the precision of forging and the splendor of chōji hamon," was inherited by later smiths such as Osafune Morimitsu, Kagemitsu, and Sanenaga, and came to form the core of the tradition of Bizen swords.

Hatakeda Moriie at TOUKENZA

TOUKENZA positions Moriie as the pinnacle of Bizen swords of the mid-Kamakura period. Moriie's refined beauty is distinct from the grandeur of the Osafune school and the magnificence of the Ichimonji schools. It is a good example of the diverse aesthetic possibilities of the Japanese sword, and it offers discovery and emotional impact even to today's sword enthusiasts.