Muramasa II
村正（二代）
Description
Muramasa II, Successor within the Chigo School
The second-generation Muramasa was a member of the Chigo ("child of the thousand-armed Kannon") smithing lineage active in Kuwana, Ise Province (present-day Kuwana, Mie Prefecture), and is regarded as the successor to the founding Muramasa. The "Chigo" name derives from a tradition that the first Muramasa's mother prayed to the thousand-armed Kannon at Yada-Hashirii-yama in Kuwana for a son, and that Muramasa was said to be a gift of that prayer.
Signature and Attribution
Each generation of the Muramasa line is said to have used a distinct calligraphic style for the characters "村" (mura) and "正" (masa) in their signatures, allowing later generations to be distinguished by signature style and tang (nakago) shape. A tantō (24.3cm, no curvature) certified as Tokubetsu Hozon has been attributed to the second generation based on its signature style and tang construction.
Style
His blades show a hamon of gunome-midare mixed with ko-notare, with active ko-ashi and nioi-guchi and the appearance of ko-nie — indicating refined forging technique.
Reputation
The Muramasa lineage is thought to have continued for six or more generations from the late Muromachi through the mid-Edo period, and is regarded as a smithing group that bridged the technical transition from koto (old swords) to shintō (new swords). The second generation was among those who sustained the school in its early stages.
Famous Works
- 短刀（二代村正在銘、刃長24.3cm、特別保存刀剣）