Sho-shin
- NENGO Chrono
- NENGO Alpha
 Juyo Cookbook
Glossary
Titles
Personal Titles
Sovereigns
© Copyright Robert Cole 1998 - No copying or distributing -Note: Missing graphics
BIZEN
KO-BIZEN
Technical: SUGATA - HEIAN KOSHIZORI where the arc straightens in
                    the upper. KO-KISSAKI. Origins are  
                    YAMASHIRO style, some early pieces may be in
                    that style. Shallow height of the back ridge.
             HADA - Finely worked MOKUME or ITAME/MOKUME mix with
                    a cast of deep transparent blue. CHIKEI and 
                    JI-NIE. NIE JI-BA may be found. KO-BIZEN is
                    known for very healthy steel, a noted point.
            HAMON - Finely done KO-NIE in NIOI-FUKASHI KO-MIDARE,
                    SUGU KO-CHOJI. Perhaps wider MIDARE BA of 
                    GUNOME and CHOJI mixes defined of ASHI, 
                    KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI. Some lines undulate in
                    height, and there will be a high degree of 
                    complexity.  
            BOSHI - SUGU or SUGU KO-MIDARE with KO-MARU.
           NAKAGO - Long, gently curved HEIAN styles. 
                    Some were KIJIMATA. Signatures are usually
                    the smith name only, but some longer.

There were two original KO-BIZEN groups: TOMONARI followed by 
MASATSUNE. Traditional study teaches KO-BIZEN began in EI-EN 987 
with these and other smiths. Present examples appear from NIN-PYO
1151, and are the subject of most modern descriptions. The early 
dates occupy a hallowed throne in scholarship and need not be 
violated, as appraisal should always fall to correct placement 
of time for individual pieces. GEN-RYAKU smiths are said to be in
the 5th generation.

The order of importance in appraisal consideration for KO-BIZEN:

     1st - TOMONARI


     2nd - MASATSUNE

     3rd - NOBUFUSA and his "Three HIRAs"

Appraisal: HEIAN BIZEN swords will bring TOMONARI and MASATSUNE 
           to mind. The first step is to weigh a differentiation 
           between these masters. 

           TOMONARI  - Look for O-HADA.  
                     - Narrow YAKIBA in BOSHI has small KO-MARU
                       or TOGARI-like head.
                     - NAKAGO is refined. Flattened KURIJIRI is 
                       HA-AGARI (HA raised) or even slightly 
                       KATAYAMA.
           MASATSUNE - Tight, well-knit grain. 
                     - CHU-SUGUHA BOSHI with KO-MARU and short
                       KAERI. 
                     - Original NAKAGO seems comparatively crude
                       and terminates in rounded KURIJIRI.

Note: -KO-BIZEN mark is very healthy steel. One doubts one's eyes.
      -Long, bold signatures: Look to TOMONARI School. 

KO-BIZEN
________
KORESUKE TEN-ROKU 970
___|____ 
SUKEKANE EI-EN 987
   |________________________
___|____                ____|____
NAGAKANE KAN-NIN 1017   SADATOSHI KAN-NIN 1017
   |______________________ ______________
___|____               ___|____      ____|____  
MOTOKANE EI-SHO 1046   HIDEKANE      YOSHIKANE EI-SHO 1046
___|_____              EI-SHO 1046   ____|____
KUNITSUGU JI-RYAKU 1065              YOSHIKANE KO-WA 1099

SUKEKANE EI-EN (f: KORESUKE): Work in CHO-KYU 1040. ITAME with 
           JI-NIE. KO-CHOJI BA. Large two-character MEI.

YOSHIKANE EI-SHO (f: NAGAKANE): KO-NIE GUNOME CHOJI-MIDARE BA.

YOSHIKANE KO-WA: KO-MASAME. Uneven KO-CHOJI MIDARE.

YOSHIKANE GEN-RYAKU (f: NAGAKANE): YOSHIKANE is recorded in JI-AN
        1021, CHO-RYAKU 1037, EI-SHO 1046 and TEN-KI 1053.
        Examination has placed GEN-RYAKU to extant pieces. An
        appraiser is to place SUGATA with time. Late HEIAN narrow
        bladed YOSHIKANE TACHI are notably graceful in curvature 
        and with FUNBARI.
        HAMON will have an evenly laid KO-MIDARE of KO-CHOJI BA. 
        Thick NIE is the KO-BIZEN special mark. BOSHI are KO-MARU
        with HAKIKAKE. Very small signature where the YOSHI will 
        have a vertical center-stroke and show equal spacing of
        perpendicular horizontal strokes. KANE can be square.

SUKEKANE GEN-RYAKU: Swords will be late HEIAN SUGATA, KO-KISSAKI,
        strong FUNBARI KOSHIZORI TACHI. Standing ITAME has JI-NIE.
        NIE KO-MIDARE BA with KO-ASHI. Small two-character MEI 
        above the ANA. 
        Note: SUKEKANE MEI thought a contemporary of TOMONARI 
        will have the same bold strokes: 
                BIZEN-no-KUNI SUKEKANE SAKU
        The 1st and 2nd FUKUOKA SUKEKANE: see FUKUOKA ICHIMONJI 
        NORIMUNE School.


________
KUNIHIRO EI-EN 987
___|____
MORIKANE JI-AN 1021
___|____
SUKETAKA KO-HEI 1058
___|_____
KUNITSUGU KAN-JI 1087 
 Sho-shin
- NENGO Chrono
- NENGO Alpha
 Juyo Cookbook
Glossary
Titles
Personal Titles
Sovereigns
Go