[Part 2] Who is the Oshu "Maikusa Blacksmith"? Explaining the influence they had on the development of Japanese swords!

Maikusa school swordsmiths who influenced the nation

We have seen that Maikusa swords and Oshu swords gained high acclaim and reliability, but in fact the swordsmiths did not continue their activities in the Maikusa region, which is considered to be their base

in 1189, when the Oshu Fujiwara clan, who wielded great power in the Tohoku region, was destroyed by Minamoto no Yoritomothe "Battle of Oshu"It is believed that this is related to

It is assumed that around the time of the founding of the Kamakura shogunate, the excellent Oshu blacksmiths, represented by the Maikusa school, were poached to the central government and sword-producing regions across the country

For example, when the military government was established in Kamakura, a system was established to produce excellent swords in the area, and it is said that as a result, ancient swords were perfected through the fusion of the techniques of swordsmiths gathered from all over the country

This movement is believed to have actually begun towards the end of the 13th century, during the late Kamakura period, and it has been pointed out that Oshu blacksmiths such as those from the Maikusa school may have been invited to join the movement

This school of sword-making, which originated in Sagami Province where Kamakura is located,"Soshu-den,"who is considered synonymous with Japanese swordsMasamune,, is known as a representative swordsmith of this school.

which include the Soshu traditionthe "Five Traditions,"Let's take a brief look at the five major schools of swordsmithing known as

The Maikusa school is not one of these schools, but it is known to have influenced some of them, and so it cannot be avoided in the history of swords

Gokaden is a general term for the following schools:

• Yamatoden
• Yamashiro Den
• Bizen tradition
• Sagamiden
• Mino tradition

The names are derived from the region (country) where the swordsmith was active, and indicate that the location was either the base of the government at the time, a place suitable for sword production, or a location that met demand

Let me give a brief explanation of each style

Five Legends "Yamato Legend"

The "Yamato-den"flourished in Nara, the first capital city, from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, and is the oldest of the Five Traditions of swordsmithing.

Characterized by its deeply curved blade shape,Amakuni,of the Yamato tradition who is said to have created the Kogarasumaru, a treasured sword passed down through the Taira clan, as mentioned earlier, is a legendary figure.

As mentioned above, there is an alternative legend that the Kogarasumaru was forged by a Maikusa blacksmith, but a Warabite sword wielded by an Emishi has been passed down as a treasure of the Shosoin Repository, and it has been pointed out that a swordsmith from Yamato may have been involved in its production

(The image below is a replica of the Kogarasumaru from the Edo period.)

Tachi (long sword), inscribed "Kogarasumaru replica," dated Tenpo 14 (1843), by Hyoshinshi Hideyo. Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System for Collections).

The Five Traditions: "Yamashiro-den"

The "Yamashiro school"was a school of swordsmiths in Kyoto that flourished from the Heian period to the Kamakura period, and is characterized by its elegant sword form, befitting the region where the capital was located for the longest period.

Among the most famous swordsmiths,"Mikazuki Munechika,"the maker of theSanjo Kokaji Munechika,one would mention

Kyoto had established trade routes with the Tohoku region since ancient times, and there are old records indicating that during the Heian period,"Mitsunaga," a, presented 3,000 tachi (long swords) to the imperial court.

Regardless of whether these figures are historically accurate, it is natural to assume that they had a significant influence on the Yamashiro legend, as Oshu swords were popular among the samurai who guarded the Imperial Court

Tachi (famous sword, Mikazuki Munechika), Heian period, 10th-12th century. Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System for Collections).

The Five Traditions: "Bizen Tradition"

The "Bizen tradition"is considered the largest school of swordsmithing that flourished in Okayama Prefecture from the Heian period to the Muromachi period.

The magnificent and practical form of the tachi swords, particularly favored by Sengoku period warlords, is impressive, and Bizen swords, including the famous"Osafune,"have become a kind of brand in themselves.

Furthermore, Bizen swords were adopted as one of the main export items in the Japan-Ming trade during the Muromachi period, and this school made it possible to mass-produce high-quality swords

who is known as a master craftsman of Old BizenMasatsunethe father ofYasumasaactuallya swordsmith from the Maikusa schoolit is said that

Tachi (long sword), Ko-Bizen Masatsune, Heian period, 12th century. Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System for Collections).

This shows that from the very early stage of the late Heian period, Bizen tradition developed under the technical influence of Oshu swordsmen such as the Maikusa school

The Five Traditions: "Soshu Tradition"

the "Soshu-den"is a school of swordsmiths that flourished in Sagami Province, present-day Kanagawa Prefecture, from the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period.

It is no exaggeration to say that the establishment of sword-making techniques, which are said to be the perfect form of the Japanese sword, was the culmination of ingenuity and dedication, with master craftsmen invited from all over the country

The sword is characterized by its sharpness, shallow curvature and thin thickness, but it can also be said that it was made with great skill to maintain the rigidity of the blade even with such a thin blade

One notable swordsmith is"Goro Nyudo Masamune,"and it is said that the swordsmiths of the Maikusa school were also collectively relocated to Sagami Province, where the Kamakura Shogunate was located, and this is thought to have influenced sword-making.

Sword, unsigned, Masamune (famous sword, Kanze Masamune), Soshu Masamune, Kamakura period, 14th century. Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System for Collections)

The Five Traditions: "Mino Tradition"

The "Mino-den"is a school of swordsmithing that flourished in Gifu Prefecture from the Nanboku-cho period to the Muromachi period, and is the newest of the Five Traditions.

Gifu is close to both Kyoto and the Tokai region, and swords developed there due to its proximity to fierce battlefields during the Sengoku period

The founders of this swordsmithing tradition were descendants of the Yamato and Soshu schools, and the resulting high-quality swords, a collaboration between these traditions,"Seki"are still renowned today as the

Well-known swordsmithsKanesadaandMagoroku Kanemoto, and their lineage continued into the late Edo period.

Given the background to the creation of Mino-den, it is unclear whether it was directly influenced by the Maikusa school, but it can at least be said to have a connection to the roots of the Yamato-den and Sagami-den styles from which it was derived

Short sword, inscribed "Made by Izumi-no-kami Kanesada," Muromachi period, 16th century. Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System for Collections).

Maikusa swords lined up among the "Goban smiths" of Emperor Gotoba

The inscription on a sword, or the name of the maker as a brand, is an important piece of information for assessing its quality, and it began to be included in "oraimono," textbook-like letters

The Shinsatsu Orai, dated the second year of the Koryaku era (1380, in the Northern Court era; the sixth year of Tenju in the Southern Court era), also lists the master craftsmen of the time, and interestingly, the inscription "Maikusa" can also be found there

It's a bit long, but let's take a look at the parts before and after it below

Tachi sword body, after the ancient heaven, Tokuname blacksmith, Hibashi several hundred people, Kishin Taifu Maigusa, Chuhi Gotobain Noban blacksmith and maker, Ikiku Tamame. In addition to these, Awataguchi, Fujibayashi, Kuniyoshi, Yoshimitsu, Sanjo Kokaji, Ryokai, Sadahide, Senjuin, Shirikake, Ichimonji, and Nakajiro. This is how the sword behaves. Dear Sir, I am very grateful to you

, among the renowned swordsmiths following the legendary swordsmith Amakuni of Yamato,"Ki no Shindaifu" and "Maikusa"It is noteworthy that

Maikusa is obviously a swordsmith who refers to a blacksmith from Oshu, so who is "Kishin Dayu"?

Kishin Dayu is pronounced "Kishindayu" or "Kinoshindaifu" and refers to Yukihira of Bungo Province, one of the "Goban Kaji," a group of swordsmiths assembled by Emperor Gotoba to make swords on a monthly basis

, which was given to Karasumaru Mitsuhiro by Hosokawa Yusai and designated athe "Kokin Denju no Tachi" (a sword that has been passed down through generationsnational treasure.

Tachi (long sword), inscribed "Made by Yukihira of Bungo Province," Heian to Kamakura period, 12th to 13th century. Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System for Collections).

There are many unknown aspects of Yukihira's background, so not much is known about him, but he is said to have been born in Suruga Province (present-day central Shizuoka Prefecture) and led a turbulent life as a swordsmith, wandering around the country to train in sword making, and then being exiled in the aftermath of the Genpei War

He was then appointed as a blacksmith on duty under Emperor Gotoba, and is said to have been one of the swordsmiths in charge of making swords for April each month

One theory suggests that the name Ki Shindayu comes from the fact that his father was the renowned swordsmith Ki Sadahide. However, there is also a legend that when Yukihira was forging swords, demons that had transformed into humans, or young boys who appeared to be demons in disguise, would assist him in hammering"Kishindayu" (Demon God Master). It is said that this is why he was called

Interestingly, there is also a legend that Yukihira's wife was the daughter of a swordsmith of the Maikusa school, and if this is true, it would make sense that the names of Kishin Dayu and Maikusa appear together in the Shinsatsu Orai

Putting aside the fact that it is an uncertain tradition to begin with, it is not at all unnatural to think that the Maikusa school, which is thought to have influenced swordsmith groups all over the country, had some contact with Yukihira

If this is the case, we can imagine that he learned the technique from his wife's father, the Maikusa blacksmith, and then incorporated it into his own sword-making techniques

Of course, the truth is still unclear, but this is one description that evokes the magnificent influence of the Maikusa sword, which is said to be the root of the Japanese sword

List of articles about the oldest swordsmith group in Oshu, "Maikusa Blacksmiths"

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Part 1] Who is the Oshu "Maikusa Blacksmith"? Explaining the influence they had on the development of Japanese swords!

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/45399

Japanese swords have always pursued superior functionality, being unbreakable, unbendable, and cutting well. As the pinnacle of world-class forging techniques, they continue to captivate many people not only for their martial arts skills but also for their beauty. Japanese swords are single-edged, curved blades that appeared around the end of the Heian period, and are crafted by specialized craftsmen known as "swordsmiths," "swordworkers," or "swordsmiths." Forging, or hammering heated iron to form a shape, requires a special technique that combines boldness and delicacy, as well as a deep understanding of the chemistry of working with iron, making them highly skilled artisans. Such...

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Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Part 2] Who is the Oshu "Maikusa Blacksmith"? Explaining the influence they had on the development of Japanese swords!

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/45401

We've seen how Maikusa swordsmiths and Oshu swords gained high acclaim and credibility throughout the country, but in fact, swordsmiths did not continue to work in the Maikusa region, which is considered their base. This is thought to be related to the Oshu War of 1189 (Bun'ei 5), in which the powerful Oshu Fujiwara clan in the Tohoku region was wiped out by Minamoto no Yoritomo. It is believed that around the time of the founding of the Kamakura Shogunate, skilled Oshu blacksmiths, such as those from the Maikusa school, were poached to the central government and sword-producing regions throughout the country. For example, the samurai government that emerged in Kamakura sought the services of skilled local swordsmiths...

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Part 2] Who is the Oshu "Maikusa Blacksmith"? Explaining the influence they had on the development of Japanese swords!

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/45403

Why did Maikusa swords have such sharp edges? Are old swords a lost technology that cannot be replicated? We've looked at the legends surrounding the Maikusa sword's superior sharpness, but how did it come to have such high cutting power? To explain, we must first discuss the historical classification of swords known as "old swords" and "upper-class old swords." "Old swords" refer to swords forged from the early Kamakura period to the end of the 16th century, while swords made before that are called "upper-class old swords." A distinctive feature of old sword construction is that the blade is often formed by kneading soft and hard iron together, while soft iron is often used...

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Koroku Taito( History writer and novelist )

to Enjoying Life.
" - Honorable Mention for "The Land of Star Readings" at the 3rd Misato Western Treasury Literary Awards.
A Visual Guide
competition. - "Swordsman's Communications" at the 9th Historical and Period Novel Grand Prizes, "Exhilarating! Entertainment Swordsman Award" (book publication project in progress).
- 5th Dan in Iaido, 4th Dan in Jodo.

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