Superb O-wakizashi Zaimei 國廣 Kunihiro, Very Beautiful Koshirae, Shinto Blade

O-Wakizashi 國廣 Kunihiro, In Koshirae, With a Shinto Blade with a very beautiful tempering line in Gunome Midare

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Mei: Zaimei (signed) in Ni-ji Mei (2 Kanji) and in Tachi Mei (Ura side ) 國廣 Kunihiro (uncertified).

The signature engraved on the Nakago indicates the name of the blacksmith 國廣 Kunihiro which seems to indicate that it would be the blacksmith “Horikawa Kunihiro” who would have forged this blade during the Momoyama Period 1576-1613 (16th century) in the Yamashiro Province.


BLADE CHARACTERISTICS:

Sugata: Shinogi-zukuri, O-Wakizashi (large)
Nagasa length: 59.2 cm
Weight: 513 g (bare blade)
Throats: No-hi (without throat)
Mune: Iori-Mune
Hamon: Gunome Midare, the Yokote is visible, correct polishing
Sori: Koshi-zori - Height: 19 mm (pronounced Sori)
Kissaki: Chu-kissaki (medium)
Boshi: Ko-Maru
Good general condition of the sword for an old sword
Defects on the blade: Some defects in minor forging, some impacts on the edge (resulting from fights) and due to the age of the blade.

KOSHIRAE:

The Tsuka is braided in Hineri-maki with an Ito in black natural Japanese silk, Kashira decorated with the divinity “Bishamon-Ten” carrying a 2-edged spear in the shape of a ½ moon called “Bishamon Yari”. The 2 very beautiful Menuki in Shakudo represent a horse (Omote side), a bow and arrows (Ura side).

“Bishamon-Ten” is one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (“Seven Gods of Luck”). He is identified with the Buddhist guardian of the north, known as Kubera or Vaiśravaṇa. Bishamon is always depicted wearing full armor, carrying a spear and carrying a miniature pagoda. He is the protector of the righteous and the Buddhist patron of warriors.

Magnificent Tsuba representing Samurai in armor.

The Saya is in good condition and is equipped with a magnificent silver Kurigata and a magnificent metal Kojiri representing an air dragon, the Sageo is in natural black Japanese silk.

The Saya displays 4 Mon (emblems) “Kumi-ai Kaku ni Kikyo” (bellflower with large flowers in a circle). He is the Mon of the Toki clan and its vassals, as well as that of the revolutionary Sakamoto Ryoma, an emblematic figure of the modernization of Japan.

The Mon Kikyo is an interesting emblem. It is one of the few Mon that has been associated with a specific color, namely light blue. The Toki clan, who used light blue as the main color on their flags and in their camps, also carried this color over to their Mon. They were immediately followed by their vassals, which spread the use of this blue Kikyo during the Sengoku period (1467-1615).

Nowadays, the Mon Kikyo has also become a symbol of revolution, challenge and tragedy. Akechi Mitsuhide, who is known for betraying his lord Oda Nobunaga, used a light blue Mon Kikyo because his ancestors were part of the Toki clan.

Sakamoto Ryoma, an activist and anti-shogunate revolutionary, as well as the Samurai and Zen master Yamaoka Tesshu, the best-known pro-government activist of this era, also used a very characteristic Kikyo emblem.