Katana : Mumei (Taima)
2017/01/25
Katana in Shirasaya, with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Paper)
Signature : Mumei (Taima)
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku, Jyo saku and regular saku)
This Mumei (Taima) belongs to Jyojyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki : Gold foiled double habaki.
Blade length : 63.2 cm or 24.88 inches.
Sori : 1.6 cm or 0.62 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi : 2.74 cm or 1.07 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 1.80 cm or 0.70 inches.
Kasane : 0.57 cm or 0.22 inches.
Era : Kamakura period.
Shape : The blade is Oosuriage mumei.
Jitetsu : Koitame and komokume hada nagger massage mixed with chikei work.
Hamon : Niedeki suguha and noter mixed with ashi, Yo work
and inside of the blade has sunagashi and kinsuji scatter.
Special feature : In Yamato sword makers devised Taima, Hosyo, Shikkake, Tegai and Senjyuin.
Taima school belonged to the Taima temple sword makers who were working for this temple.
The place is located Nara prefecture Taima city Taima temple.
At 1248, Taima Kuniyuki started to make swords at that place
and continued till late Nanbokucyo period.
Taima school is rather different from other Yamato school.
The first stage of the Taima school looks like Sosyu Yukimitsu.
The Jigane is excellent and niedeki thick nioikuchi and strong kinsuji work.
I think this Taima temple was very rich and used high quality Tamahagane for making swords.
This sword is thick nioikuchi suguha noter hamon with sunagashi and kinsuji which is elegant jigane and nice Hamon.
Thew hamon is suguha based gunome midare and ashi work.
In ha, sunagashi, kinsuji work which is typical Taima school.
Koshirae :
Tsuba : Mokko shape, brass Tsuba, dragon is engraved.
Fuchikashira : Shakudo, dragon is egngraved.
Saya : Black Roiro Saya.
Menuki : Flower and bird are engraved with gold color.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.