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

Why did the Maikusa sword have such a sharp edge? Are ancient swords a lost technology that cannot be reproduced?

We've looked at the legends surrounding the superior sharpness of the Maikusa sword, but how did it acquire such high cutting power?

To explain that,"Koto"and"Jokotowe must first touch upon the historical classification of swords, known as

" "Koto" refers to swords forged from the early Kamakura period to around the end of the 16th century, while those made before that are called "Jokoto."

A characteristic of Koto construction is that the blade is often formed by kneading together soft iron and hard iron, which differs"Shinto"(swords from the Koto period to around the mid-Edo period), which are finished by wrapping soft iron material with hard iron material.

Sword by Osumi no Jō Masahiro, Edo period, Keichō 11 (1606) Source:ColBase (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage Integrated Search System)

Surprisingly, the composition of most ancient swords remains largely unknown even today, and it is no exaggeration to say that a wide range of techniques, such as the iron material composition, firing temperature, and shaping method, are virtually impossible to recreate. It would

so-calledlost technologies, and it is said that some modern swordsmiths have set the reproduction of ancient swords as their ultimate goal.

Therefore, the reason why the Maikusa sword boasted such sharpness remains unclear in a strict sense. It is thought that

the iron used in ancient swords contained various impurities in a modern sense, and it has been suggested that the action of these substances may have resulted in unimaginable strength, or caused phenomena such as the appearance of blue or green colors on the blade, as described in some legends. Furthermore

, it is said that the techniques and knowledge to intentionally create such special blade steel were secret teachings, and that ancient swordsmiths did not carelessly publish their research findings.

There are so-called techniques that are passed down from father to son, and it is easy to imagine that once lost, they can never be reproduced. It is certainly

possible that the composition and manufacturing methods of ancient swords will be revealed with future advances in scientific research methods, but the pinnacle of ancient swords remains one of the challenges that modern swordsmiths continue to research.

The reason why Maikusa swords were popular with many samurai is probably because they not only had a sharp edge, but also had the strength to withstand fierce battles

Because of their sharp edges, swords can easily chip when slashing each other

In terms of artistic value in the modern sense, delicate polishing is necessary, but as a sword was originally a tool used in daily combat, it is thought that its fighting performance, such as resistance to chipping and breaking, was important

For this reason, it is said that before a battle, the blade would be polished with gravel to roughen it up

As mentioned earlier, there are many unknown aspects of how ancient swords are made, so the details remain a mystery, but it is not unnatural to assume that swords and katanas of that time were required not only to be sharp, but also to be sturdy enough to withstand long periods of close combat

Perhaps this is why the legend of the dancing sword "Kirisue," which is said to have cut down armored warriors, was born

What is Maikusa Shrine? A former base of the Maikusa school?

in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, which is located on what is believed to have been the base of operations for the former Maikusa school of swordsmithsthe Mokusa Shrinelet me introduce you to

The shrine is located on the middle slope of Mt. Kannon, 324 meters above sea level, and was founded in the Heian period and is listed as a shrine in the Engishiki

Items related to blacksmithing, such as bellows, iron slag, iron fragments, and burnt clay, have been excavated from the surrounding area, but no ruins have yet been discovered that directly prove that the Maikusa school used this area as its base

However, due to the similarity of the characters "儛草" and "舞草," and the presence of place names scattered around the area such as "カジ妻," "湯つぼ," and "清水," which suggest a connection to blacksmithing, this placethe "birthplace of ancient blacksmithing in Maikusa."is considered

There is also a legend that the group of Maikusa sword smiths were people who came over from the continent, and it is an interesting fact that the place name "Karanoko" remains, which seems to prove this

Furthermore, on Mt. Hakusan, which is connected to Mt. Kannon, where the shrine is located, high-quality iron ore containing a large amount of iron was once mined

For safety reasons, the remains have now been buried, but it is believed that the ability to collect these iron raw materials also contributed to the development of the blacksmith group

Along the approach to the eastern side of the Maikusa Shrine"Maikusa Blacksmith Site,", there is a signpost inscribed with

However, along the way there is an open space called "Kissho Ichibanchi," and it has been pointed out that this may also be the site of a blacksmith's shop

Deity of Ukusa Shrine

If we look at the deities enshrined at Ukusa Shrine, we find that four deities are enshrined: Izanagi-no-Mikoto, Shirayama-hime-no-Kami, Uganomitama-no-Mikoto, and Kumano-Okami

Izanagi-no-Mikoto is the father god of the creation of Japan, Hakusanhime-no-Mikoto is a god associated with the worship of Mount Hakusan, which straddles Ishikawa, Gifu, and Fukui prefectures, Kuranokami-no-Mikoto is the so-called Inari god, and Kumano-no-Okami is a god enshrined in Kumano, Wakayama prefecture, and is widely revered in the Tohoku region

Although these gods are popular, it is difficult to see any direct connection to blacksmithing

However, within the shrine grounds there is the Hakusan Myori Gongen Shrine, which is said to have been founded in 718, and a signpost marking the site of the gold-cast statue

Hakusan Myori Gongen Shrine is believed to have a huge rock as its sacred object, and is a place that gives a sense of the ancient nature of the so-called "iwaza faith," and there is a theory that this is the original Tokusa Shrine

At first glance, there are no remains or vestiges to be seen at the "Kanaigami Statue Ruins," but this "Kanaigami" is also known as "Kanayako-no-kami" or "Kanaya-no-kami," and is the god in charge of iron production

Because he also possesses the characteristics of a fire god, he has been revered mainly by blacksmiths, bellows makers, ironworkers, and foundries involved in iron production and mining, and if Maikusa Shrine is the god of Maikusa blacksmiths, then perhaps this deity is more appropriate for swordsmiths

Of course, they did not worship only one god, and since various natural elements such as earth, water, and wind were essential to their livelihoods, which centered on ironmaking and blacksmithing, it is not unnatural that they worshiped multiple deities as a group

Hatsukusa Shrine <Information>

• Name: Gankusa Shrine
• Address: 5 Maikawa Ohira, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, 021-0221
• Phone number: 0191-46-5319
• Official URL:-

Google Map

lastly

Maikusa swords are still a subject of much mystery, as no signed swords dating back to the Kamakura period have been found, and there is no evidence that they are related to the Maikusa district and Maikusa Shrine, which are thought to have been the base of a group of swordsmiths

However, it is truly moving to think that Maikusa has influenced the birth of the Japanese sword, an implement that is no exaggeration to say created a historic milestone

As research continues, we can look forward to even more amazing facts about Maikusa swords and Oshu swords being revealed

<Major references and websites>

• Hideo Akanuma, "Ancient and Medieval Iron and Ironware Production and Distribution in Northern Tohoku Region: An Interdisciplinary Study of Archaeology and Natural Science (Abstract)," Abstract of a Doctoral Dissertation (Waseda University), 1992. <Link:PDF file>
• Nobuo Takahashi, "Warabite-to (a type of sword)," *Materia*, Vol. 34, No. 10, The Japan Institute of Metals, 1995. <Link:PDF file>
• Junko Watase, "The Background of the Formation of the Sword Scroll: A Re-examination of the Atsuta Mythology and the World of Sword Manuals," *Kokubungaku Kenkyu* (138 12-22), Waseda University Japanese Literature Society, 2002. <Link:PDF file>
• Special Exhibition "Exploring the Roots of Curvature in Early Japanese Swords" Sano Art Museum, Osaka Museum of History, Ichinoseki City Museum, 2003
• Hideo Akanuma and Ken Kumagai, "Metalar Archaeological Analysis of a Damaged Warabite Sword in the Collection of the Rikuzentakata City Museum," *Iwate Prefectural Museum Research Report No. 30*, Iwate Prefectural Museum, 2013. <Link:PDF file>
• Ichinoseki Citizen Activity Center Legend Investigation File No. 4 "Maigusa Blacksmith" <Link:Website>

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...

read more

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...

Koroku Taito( History writer and novelist )

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