NORISHIGE, SOSHU, C- 1320 AD - SamuraiSword.com

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NORISHIGE, SOSHU, C- 1320 AD

Student of Masamune

Tokubetsu juyo token by the NBTHK

saya-gaki by, KANZAN, Dr Sato

This blade by Norishige is Tokubetsu Juyo (one step above Juyo). Norishige is one of the most important sword smiths in the history of Japanese Swords… N.B.T.H.K stated on the Juyo narrative that the work was so similar to Masamune that you can call them the same. It is in absolutely perfect condition, even the Horimono (grooves) were done by Norishige. It is a highly recommended candidate for Juyo Bijutsuhin (next level up from Tokubetsu Juyo) but of course it would not ever leave Japan, as it would fall into the Cultural property category.

Juyo Zufu translation:

J?y?-t?ken at the 3rd j?y? shinsa held on July 7, 1959

katana, mumei: Den Norishige (???)

(w/ K?ch? origami from Ky?h? three)

K?be, Yano Yatar? (?????)

Measurements

nagasa 68.2 cm, sori 2.1 cm, motohaba 3.0 cm, sakihaba 2.4 cm, kissaki-nagasa 4.1 cm, nakago-nagasa 16.0 cm, no nakago-sori

Description

Keij?: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, due to the ?-suriage a shallow sori, elongated ch?-kissaki

Kitae: itame that is mixed with masame and that features plenty of ji-nie, jifu, and chikei

Hamon: hiro-suguha-ch? that tends to a gentle notare with large undulations and that is mixed with gunome, ashi, y?, sunagashi, ara-nie, and kinsuji

B?shi: widely hardened midare-komi with a hakikake, nie, and kinsuji

Horimono: on both sides a futasuji-hi that runs as kaki-t?shi through the tang

Nakago: ?-suriage, kurijiri, gently slanting katte-sagari yasurime, one mekugi-ana, mumei

Explanation

It is said that Norishige (??), who was a resident of the rural township of Gofuku (Japanese: Gofuku-G?, ???) of Etch? province, had studied with S?sh? Masamune (??), but also the theory exists that he had been a fellow student of Masamune. In any case, on the basis of the shape and interpretation of Norishige’s blades, we can agree with either tradition and can place him in the close vicinity of Masamune. Only two signed tachi, but several signed tant? of Norishige exist, and the interpretation and quality of the latter suggest that the smith had placed a special emphasis on the production of tant?. Many unsigned katana exist that are attributed to Norishige, although only few of them can be considered as actually going back to his hand. The blade described here comes with an origami issued by Hon’ami K?ch? (?????, ?–1719) on the third day of the twelfth month of Ky?h? three (??, 1718), in which he attributes it to Norishige and evaluates it with 1,500 kan. The jiba of the blade shows the characteristic features of the Norishige School and the deki is excellent. The shape with its elongated kissaki suggests a production time from the Nanbokuch? period and both ji and ha are perfectly healthy (kenzen).

See near the end for Tokubetsu Juyo Zufu and sayagaki translations.

Measurements

nagasa 68.3 cm, sori 1.8 cm, motohaba 2.9 cm, sakihaba 2.3 cm, kissaki-nagasa 3.9 cm, nakago-nagasa 16.1 cm, nakago-sori 0.1 cm

Description

Keij?: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, rather wide mihaba, thick kasane, shallow sori, somewhat elongated ch?-kissaki

Kitae: itame that is mixed with mokume, nagare, and some ?-hada in places and that features plenty of ji-nie and much chikei

Hamon: widely hardened and gently undulating notare with a wide nioiguchi and mixed with gunome, many ashi and y?, ara-nie, uchinoke, yubashiri, kuichigai-na, and prominent kinsuji and sunagashi, the ha features plenty of nie

B?shi: notare-komi that almost runs out in yakitsume manner and that features a hint of hakikake

Horimono: on both sides a futasuji-hi that runs as kaki-t?shi through the tang

Nakago: ?-suriage, ha-agari kurijiri, katte-sagari yasurime, one mekugi-ana, mumei

Artisan

Norishige from Etch? province

Era

End of Kamakura period

Explanation

As Norishige (??) lived in the township of Gofuku (Japanese: Gofuku-G?, ???), located within the Nei District (???) of Etch? province, he is also referred to as Gofuku-G?. According to the Kokon Mei Zukushi (????) and other Edo period sword publications, Norishige was one of the Ten Students of Masamune, but judging from the shapes of his tachi and tant? and extant dates from the Sh?wa (??, 1312-1317) and Gen’? (??, 1319-1321) eras, it appears that he was rather a fellow student of Masamune (??) under Shint?go Kunimitsu (?????), as already Muromachi period sword texts like the Kiami Hon (????) suggest. Norishige’s workmanship is close to that of Yukimitsu (??) and Masamune, but his unique and standing-out ?-itama that features many thick chikei, which can also appear in a whirlpool shape, and that is referred to as matsukawa-hada (???) distinguishes him from Yukimitsu and Masamune. Period sword texts describe that typical approach as: “Highly skillful in forging steel and displaying a non-uniform hada structure.” It is possible that Norishige was inspired by works of Yasutsuna (??) and other Ko-H?ki smiths with this forging, which is classical and often has the blackish appearance that is typical for works from the northern provinces (Japanese: Hokkoku-mono).

This blade shows a kitae in itame that is mixed with mokume and that features plenty of ji-nie and prominent chikei. The hamon is a widely hardened and gently undulating notare with a wide nioiguchi and is mixed with gunome, many thick nie-ashi and plenty of kinsuji sunagashi, and yubashiri. The ha shows an abundance of nie and hataraki and has a large amount of variation. Thus, we clearly recognize the hand of one of the great early S?sh? masters and the apprarance and within this group, the complexity of the jiba attributes the blade to Norishige. In addition, it comes to advantage that both ji and ha of the blade are very healthy. Also, the blade comes with an origami that was issued by Hon’ami K?ch? (?????, ?–1719) on the third day of the twelfth month of Ky?h? three (??, 1718).

Sayagaki translation:

???????

????????

??????????

???????????????

???

Hon’ami K?ch? origami

Etch? no Kuni Gofuku-G? Norishige

Hach? ni-shaku ni-sun go-bu kore ari

Goto origami haikan katsu iwayuru d?saku-ch? no y?t? nari

Kanzan shirusu

With origami by Hon’ami K?ch?

Gofuku-G? Norishige from Etch? Province

Blade length ~ 68.2 cm

I am in agreement with the origami and it can be said that this masterly blade is one of the best works by this smith in existence.

Written by Kanzan.

This Sword is not available for purchase.

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