© Copyright Robert Cole 2014
- No copying or distributing
JU-SAN no MITSUKE - Discovery of the
Thirteen Points
The secret to appraisal is appreciating and cataloging different aspects of
the following sword characteristics in two operations that reveal
time-period and school for an individual smith. (see KOTO - Placing Time
Period and THE FIVE SCHOOLS)
1. SUGATA (shape) MI - Blade style
SHINOGI-TSUKURI?
Original shape? HIRA-TSUKURI?
____________________ SORI - Depth? Symmetry?
JU-SAN no MITSUKE | KOSHIZORI?
"Discovery of the | TORIIZORI?
Thirteen Points" | SAKIZORI?
-MI | FUNBARI - Tapering?
-SORI | Width of MOTO-HABA
-MUNE | Width of SAKI-HABA
-KISSAKI | SHINOGI - Blade thickness?
-HADA | High SHINOGI?
-Steel Color | Low SHINOGI?
-HAMON | Plane-width of SHINOGI-JI
-BOSHI | NIKU - "Meat"
-KAERI | Convexity of JI
-YAKIBA Color | MUNE - Style? Height?
-NIE | Width?
-NIOI | KISSAKI - Style? Size?
-HORIMONO | FUKURA?
MONOUCHI - Blade width?
Note HORIMONO and grooves (HI) Curvature?
_________________________________________________
2. HADA (Grain) Pattern: KISSAKI
JI-HADA
Color and texture SHINOGI-JI
Lamination lines: HA
JI-NIE, CHIKEI, SHINOGI
and UTSURI MUNE
_________________________________________________
3. YAKIBA Color and clarity BOSHI - Shape?
KAERI?
MONOUCHI - Pattern?
Three Parts HAMON - Pattern?
of HAMON: BOSHI YAKIDASHI?
HA Specific intricacy: NIE
YAKIDASHI ________ NIOI
ASHI?
______________________________ KINSUJI?
SUNAGASHI?
4. NAKAGO Style INAZUMA?
Length TOBI?
Color, texture, and NAKAGO-MUNE YO?
condition of rusting JIRI YUBASHIRI?
Ridge
Inscriptions NIKU
YASURI
Alterations? MEKUGI-ANA
