A Munetsugu Katana (備前介藤原宗次)

Koyama Munetsugu stands at the summit of the Shinshintô period. Born in the castle town of Shirakawa in Mutsu Province, he was retained by Lord Matsudaira Sadanobu of Rakuô before moving to Kuwana in Ise Province around 1830 and later to Edo, where he served as a retainer of the ruling clan of Ise. Fujishiro ranks him jôjô-saku – a highly superior swordsmith – and he is best known for his Bizen-style chôji hamon in nioi-deki with finely forged mokume-hada, precisely the tradition this katana so magnificently represents. Featured in the NBTHK Journal Tôken-Bijutsu No. 718 (November 2016), this blade is described therein as a textbook example of Munetsugu’s work.

The nakago is extraordinary – inscribed with a seven-character signature, dated to a day in the second month of Bunkyû 4 (February 1864), and covered on both faces with proverbs and spiritual inscriptions. These include Tenka-muteki (“Unequaled / Peerless”), the nine-syllable kujiin mantra invoking wisdom, benevolence, and courage, and the Zen proverb Kiri-musubu yaiba no shita wa jigoku nari, mi o sutete koso ukabu se mo ari – “To be under crossed swords is hell, but only if you are prepared to sacrifice your life, will you be able to get out of the situation.” A sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro confirms and celebrates the blade’s stature.

The complete custom koshirae – lacquered in glossy black (kuro-ro-nuri) and made in the modern period specifically for this sword – is fitted with fittings of exceptional individual distinction: a spectacular tsuba by Jugakusai Katsufumi depicting rabbits on the moon, holding its own NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon; a fuchi-kashira by Yoshitsugu depicting coral collectors, also NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon; and menuki attributed to Kyô-Sasayama Tokuyuki with a moon and wave theme. This is a complete package of rare calibre.