A Chikuzen Sa-School Wakizashi

NANBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY), SIGNED CHOSHU JU YASUYOSHI AND DATED JOJI GO HACHI (1366.8)

Details

A Chikuzen Sa-School Wakizashi
Nanbokucho period (14th century), signed Choshu ju Yasuyoshi and dated Joji go hachi (1366.8)
Sugata [configuration]: hira-zukuri, iori-mune with a wide mi-haba and slight curve
Kitae [forging pattern]: o-itame in ji-nie with hada-dachi and chikei
Hamon [tempering pattern]: notare-gunome mixed with choji of nie, with deep nioi, sunagashi and kin-suji
Boshi [tip]: midare-komi, tsuki-age with a deep return and some haki-kake
Horimono [carving]: bo-hi ni tsure-hi on both sides
Nakago [tang]: ubu, slight kuri-jiri with three holes and suji-kai file marks
Habaki [collar]: two-piece, gold
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 13 5/8in. (34.4cm.)
In shirasaya [wood storage scabbard]
With Yushu bunkazai (Very important cultural asset) certificate no. 82 issued by the Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan (Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings), dated 1999.6.1

Lot Essay

Yasuyoshi was the son of Samonji of Chikuzen province. He migrated to Choshu (Nagato province) sometime prior to 1362, the earliest date inscribed on extant swords bearing Choshu as his place of residence. His recorded signatures include Choshu ju Yasuyoshi as on the sword here, Choshu Yasuyoshi, and the name he is believed to have used early in his career, Yasuyuki. He was succeeded by at least two generations, but this sword is the work of the first-generation Yasuyoshi.

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