© Copyright Robert Cole
1998 - No copying or distributing -Note:
Missing graphics
YAMASHIRO
AWATAGUCHI
* From SANJO's Fertile Garden Plot *
Technical: SUGATA - Deep KAMAKURA TORIIZORI with greater strength
than SANJO. SEMAI (narrow) SHINOGI-JI. MITSU-
MUNE TANTO are many. Stout KISSAKI. Carvings
may be deeply cut. BO-HI. SUKEN, sword shaped
carvings, may have large head. Note: If arc
in the upper keeps talking, think HISAKUNI.
HADA - The finely done KO-MOKUME that made the
expression NASHI-JI "JI of Pear" famous. The
SHOGEN~
steel might appear drawn and running but
GOBAN
always remains knit. Clear blue. Can exhibit
-KUNITOMO purple
tones. Excellent JI-NIE is expected.
-HISAKUNI A
moist appearance from finely worked steel
-KUNIYASU is
specific and trademark to YAMASHIRO. This
wet quality is expected of the AWATAGUCHI.
OKI GOBAN CHIKEI
may be found. NIE UTSURI or NIE JI-BA
-NORIKUNI is
an AWATAGUCHI badge appearing like wet NIE
-KAGEKUNI island
or patch-like areas that dot along or
-KUNITSUNA above
the HAMON. Note: MU-JI has stumbled the
inexperienced. NASHI-JI HADA is not rough,
age and obvious quality are its teacher.
HAMON
- Mostly HOSO-SUGUHA. Also SUGU KO-MIDARE with
YO, SUGU KO-CHOJI or KO-CHOJI MIDARE in fine
"Gold" KO-NIE that is strong. Temperature
differential at the HA created NIJUBA-like
effects in some examples. INAZUMA and KINSUJI
are found; and UCHINOKE (esp. KUNIYASU).
BOSHI
- An extension of the HAMON, or HOSO-SUGU that
appears "slack," YAKIZUMI or KO-MARU next to
the MUNE - or KAEN. Often stronger NIE. NIE
particles can become ARA "rough."
NAKAGO - Signatures
are smith names.
The AWATAGUCHI was the flowering of KAMAKURA Period YAMASHIRO.
Three of founder, KUNIIYEs' sons were members of the ICHIMONJI,
and therefore recognized as major contributors to the fundamental
technology that brought the advancement of the Japanese Sword.
________
KAGEHISA _______________________________________
SHO-AN 1171 "The Six Sons" of AWATAGUCHI KUNIIYE GEN-RYAKU 1184
__________ __________ __________ _________|___________
___|____ ___|____ ___|____ ___|____ __|____ ____|____
KUNITOMO HISAKUNI KUNIYASU KUNIKIYO ARIKUNI KUNITSUNA
| 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
___|____
NORIKUNI
|______________________ ____________ ____________
___|_____ ______________|_____ ____|_____ ____|___
KUNIYOSHI AWATAGUCHI KUNIMITSU YOSHIMITSU KUNINOBU
____________|_____
SHINTOGO KUNIMITSU
YAMASHIRO AWATAGUCHI "The Six Sons" of AWATAGUCHI KUNIIYE
The AWATAGUCHI: The TORIN family of KYOTO.
KAGEHISA SHO-AN: MASAME. HOSO-SUGUHA and KO-MIDARE BA.
KUNIIYE BUN-JI (f: KUNIYORI): AWATAGUCHI Founder. TORIN YAKURO.
Although one reference places him from WASHU SOREKAMI-
KORI, YAMATO, he and his school are considered SANJO and
GOJO line smiths. Work period from BUN-JI 1185 to GEN-NIN
1224. His six sons are the AWATAGUCHI masters. Three were
ICHIMONJI. - See the "Six Sons" following
SUYEMASA KEN-KYU (t: KUNIIYE): Work to KEN-PO 1213.
________ _______ _________
ARIMITSU ARINAGA KUNICHIKA
- TEI-O 1222 - EN-O 1239
ARIMITSU TEI-O: Fine KO-MOKUME. KO-NIE SUGUHA.
ARINAGA TEI-O: Fine KO-MOKUME. NIE SUGUHA.
KUNICHIKA EN-O: Work to SHO-O 1288. KO-MOKUME with MASAME. SUGUHA
and KO-CHOJI BA.
________ ________
NARIKUNI KUNIHIRO SHO-GEN 1207 to BUN-O 1260
___|____ ___|____
KUNINAGA NIN-JI 1240 SUYEMUNE EI-NIN 1293
_______ _______
ARINOBU HO-JI 1247 ARITAKA KEN-CHO 1249
ARINOBU HO-JI: Well made KO-MOKUME. NIE SUGUHA.
ARITAKA KEN-CHO: MASAME. NIOI HOSO-SUGUHA.
_________ _______ ________ _______
NOBUMITSU ARITADA KAGEHISA ARIKIYO
- KO-AN 1278 - EI-NIN 1293
NOBUMITSU KO-AN: To BUN-PO 1317. MOKUME HADA. Fine KO-NIE
KO-MIDARE BA with ASHI.
Go - to the Six Sons
