Hikoshiro Sadamune
HikoshirÅ Sadamune (相模國ä½äººè²žå®— - Sagami kuni junin Sadamune[1]) (born Einin 6, 1298; died ShÅhei 4, 1349[2]) also called SÅshÅ« Sadamune was a swordsmith of the SÅshÅ« school, originally from GÅshÅ« (also known as ÅŒmi province) whose works are considered some of the finest blades ever created. His works are often compared with those of the other great Koto era (987-1596) swordsmiths including SÅshÅ« Masamune, Toshiro Yoshimitsu, Go Yoshihiro, Bizen Nagamitsu, and Ike Muramasa. He was a son by blood or adoption[3] of SÅshÅ« Masamune considered by many to be the most famous of the SÅshÅ« masters.[4][5]
After leaving GÅshÅ« province to go to what is now Kanagawa Prefecture, Sadamune became a student of Masamune, sometime around the Namboku-chÅ[5] era. As a mark of his completion of his teacher's training he inherited the mune part of his name Sadamune from Masamune. Sadamune was not one of the Great Juttetsu trained by Masamune, but his works were regarded to be of the same level as his master's.
Students
SÅshÅ« Sadamune is believed at the present time to have trained four students Nobukuni (信国)[6] who formed a long lineage of swordsmiths under the same name, Nobukuni[7] famous for his horimono images carved into the blades, and Takagi Sadamune (江州□ä½è²žå®— - goshu takaki ju Sadamune).[8]
A great debate exists in the academic community about Takagi Sadamune.[9] It is uncertain if Takagi Sadamune is simply SÅshÅ« Sadamune after he returned to his home region, a son of his or someone who he taught sword making. The swords of Takagi Sadamune are not considered to be as high a quality as those produced by SÅshÅ« Sadamune but are still of exceptional skill.
One signed copy of his work exists: a tantÅ blade, formerly owned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.[9] The work signed GÅshÅ« Takagi ju Sadamune is said to have been made when SÅshÅ« Sadamune returned home to Takagi in GÅshÅ« province. Legend says he returned home to produce a copy of a famous sword called the Ropecutter.
He also trained Kanro Toshinaga who is believed to have worked in Echigo province in the Nanboku-chÅ period.[10][11]
Higo Munekage (Higo No-Kuni Kumamoto-Kishi, Hagi Jiemon No-Sho Fujiwara Munekage Saku) who was a student of Suishinshi Masahide takes a great influence from Sadamune in his work, but wasn't a student of his.Higo Munekage Katana
Kokon Mei Zukushi and other books listing Japanese sword smiths and blades list Motoshige as a student of Sadamune however Dr. Honma Junji disagrees with this in his book Nihon Koto Shi (History of Koto) By Dr. Honma Junji
See also
References
- ↑ Nihonto Knowledge Base
- ↑ Family tree
- ↑ Masamune Info
- ↑ Sano Museum
- 1 2 Swords Discussion Forum
- ↑ Nobukuni 1
- ↑ Nobukuni 2
- ↑ Takagi Sadamune
- 1 2 Takagi Sadamune TantÅ Blade
- ↑ Ura Nihon no Toko - By Yoshikawa Kentaro
- ↑ - Kanro Toshinaga blade sale