KO-OSAFUNE MITSUTADA School

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BIZEN

Lay-out Version

KO-OSAFUNE MITSUTADA School

__________________
KO-BIZEN CHIKATADA KEN-PO 1213
  |___________________ ___________________ _______________
__|______           __|_____           ___|____        ___|____  
MITSUTADA           KAGEHIDE(1)        YASUTADA        KAGEYASU  
  | BUN-RYAKU 1234    | SHO-GEN 1259   RYAKU-NIN 1238  JO-EI 1232
            
  |     ______________|___________________________ _______
  | ___|______      __|_____                   ___|____   |
  | SHIGEYOSHI(1)   KAGEHIDE(2) KEN-GEN 1302   KAGEYORI   |
  | KA-GEN 1303       |____________            SHO-O 1288 |
  | See KOZORI      __|_____    ___|____      ____________|___   
  |                 SANEFUSA    SHIGEIYE      FUKUOKA KAGENORI(1)
  |                 GEN-O 1319  KEM-MU 1334  _____________|___   
  |                      See KOZORI          YOSHIOKA KAGENORI(2) 
  |                                        YOSHII School Founders 
  |                                        See YOSHII  
  |________________ ____________ ________________________ ___________________
__|______ -br- ____|____     ___|____                 ___|____               |
NAGAMITSU      MITSUKAGE     SANENAGA BUN-EI 1264     KAGEYASU SHO-O 1288    |
SHO-O 1288     EI-NIN 1299   See NAGAMITSU School     ___|____               |
See Following                                         YASUYUKI KA-REKI 1326  |
                        ______________________ ______________________________|  
                    ___|____               ___|______            
                    SUYENORI KA-TEI 1235   MITSUCHIKA SHO-O 1288    
                       |___________        ___|_____             
                    ___|______  ___|____   MOTOMITSU KA-REKI 1326         
                    MITSUCHIKA  HISAMUNE                 
                       - BUN-EI 1264 -                    


SUYENORI KA-TEI (t: MITSUTADA, f: YASUNORI): From TEI-O 1222, his
        line falls from FUKUOKA NORIMUNE. ITAME HADA. CHOJI BA.

BIZEN KO-OSAFUNE School - MITSUTADA

MITSUTADA RYAKU-NIN (f: CHIKATADA, br: KAGEYASU): OSAFUNE Founder.

Work from RYAKU-NIN 1238 to BUN-EI 1264. OSAFUNE JU. Before SOSHU found MASAMUNE and the TEGAI exploded around YAMATO KANENAGA, the artistic power of MITSUTADA would ignite the most prolific sword center in history. His inspired genius drew excited prodigies like filings to a magnet, firing the lives and forges in OSAFUNE for 350 years.

His time arises from the transition to Mid-KAMAKURA. Most MITSUTADA are SURIAGE or O-SURIAGE, as are many swords from his era. For this reason many attributed O-SURIAGE have erroneously been given recognition. MITSUTADA was one of the true greats, his YAKIBA architecture is a harmony of seemingly diverse disciplines that weave and counterpoint disparate patterns. There is reserve. There is delicate refinement of contrasting subtleties. Most O-SURIAGE MU-MEI, although very beautiful ICHIMONJI style creations, are simply not OSAFUNE swords and generally lack the interactive and subtle dynamics of this master. The reaction of scholarship has promulgated these considerations:

O-SURIAGE candidates in the ICHIMONJI style with KAWAZU, JUKA and OBUSA-rises, keeping an even and strong height that carries through the MONOUCHI should be given a stern eye. - This is not the practice on genuine signed pieces.

Argument proposes that dynamic variance was lost in the absent YAKIDASHI on O-SURIAGE of 2.2 SHAKU or less. However, it is classic supposition that the KO-OSAFUNE definer of reserve or restraint of pattern in the MONOUCHI was birthed and gifted from brother, FUKUOKA KAGEYASU and signed MITSUTADA show the first bannering of this famous OSAFUNE signpost.

THEREFORE:

-Look for variance in YAKIBA height.
-Look for diverse figures and TOBI-YAKI.
-Look for the OSAFUNE MONOUCHI, the devoted passion pursued so vigorously by descendants NAGAMITSU and KAGEMITSU: The KO-ASHI defined KO-CHOJI line descends smoothly from pattern to a varying but fairly even CHU-width approach to the BOSHI.

There are many O-SURIAGE ICHIMONJI style swords, but few MITSUTADA. One always remembers, - The work is the true signature of the master. Genuine MITSUTADA weds strength with RESERVE, - and does so artistically. It's not all brassy dance-and-show. Swords that are "too fancy" have been called MITSUTADA. continued-

BIZEN KO-OSAFUNE MITSUTADA

Swirling MOKUME and O-MOKUME veiled of JI-NIE with 
      MIDARE-UTSURI that makes the surface appear wet. 
      BO-HI is common.

MITSUTADA First Period: Showing deference for his 
      formative and conservative roots, KO-BIZEN, early 
      work may have an early KAMAKURA feel and be KO-MIDARE 
      of KO-CHOJI BA in NIE that has KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI. 
      MITSUTADA famous for TOBI-YAKI. 

MITSUTADA Later Period: Mid-KAMAKURA national SUGATA trend 
      brings the KEN-CHO 1249 widening of the upper and its 
      IKUBI style, bold KISSAKI, - however KO-OSAFUNE liked 
      the more normal, elongated feel. GUNOME pushes through 
      CHOJI. TOBI-YAKI appears at the tops. KAWAZU CHOJI is 
      associated to the school and the time. 

Note: ICHIMONJI work will be far more brazen and uniform. 
MITSUTADA YAKIBA will rise and fall, and will have generally 
less height than ICHIMONJI. MITSUTADA is a more dynamically 
combined and reserved line. Look for hard or soft TOBI 
tethered by strings.

Mitsutada - 71.2cm

BUNKAZAI MITSUTADA

BUNKAZAI MITSUTADA

NAGASA: 2.3 SHAKU 2.3 BU
SORI: 8.6 BU
NAKAGO: 5.9 SUN

MOTO-HABA: 9.3 BU
SAKI-HABA: 6 BU

SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE, KOSHIZORI TACHI.
Classic lines are powerfully sculpted anew. A BO-HI SHINOGI-JI falls from the KO-SHINOGI through the NAKAGO.

Swirling MOKUME with JI-NIE.

OSAFUNE MONOUCHI: A smooth BOSHI finds CHU-width, evenly set, squarish CHOJI beginning from the YOKOTE. Each nodule resets the slight ASAKI-NOTARE undulation of its neighbor.

Looping YO-painted CHOJI crest a wave-like swell through the upper which breaks-up and falls in ever-changing combinations. Square, oblong and pointed OBUSA GUNOME jut through jostling KO-CHOJI where delicate KO-ASHI trace detail. Far and near KAWAZU rise in the mid, tending their KAWAZUKO garden. KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI combine in long undercurrents. Round TOBI-YAKI stand on pinnacles to dot the lower while UTSURI rises from the HABUCHI. OMOTE lower is quieter than URA, its faraway figures stand placidly.

KIRI-JIRI SURIAGE NAKAGO has two MEKUGI-ANA, the lower with multiple bores. His small MEI rests in the JI, solidly above the lower ANA:
MITSUTADA

KOKUHO MITSUTADA Collection of ODA NOBUNAGA

KINZOGAN-MEI MITSUTADA - HONAMI KOTOKU (CAO)
ODA Collection

NAGASA: 72.6cm

IKUBI-KISSAKI on O-SURIAGE KAMAKURA SUGATA TACHI.
ITAME HADA with NIOI-DEKI CHOJI-MIDARE BA. Osafune Monouchi.

Mitsutada Tachi - Kokuho

Mitsutada Tachi - Kokuho
Nagasa: 68.9cm
Moto-haba: 2.7cm

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, deeply curved Koshizori with Chu-Kissaki.
Ko-Itame Hada has Ji-Nie.
Nioi-Fukashi Obusa Choji Midare Ba has long-fall Ashi-naga.
Omote Boshi is Maru, Togari on Ura.
Suriage Kurijiri Nakago has four Mekugi-ana. Signed on the Ji.
Mitsutada

KOKUHO MITSUTADA

KOKUHO MITSUTADA

KINZOGAN-MEI MITSUTADA - HONAMI KOTOKU (CAO)
ODA Collection

NAGASA: 68.5cm

SHINOGI-TSUKURI,IHORI-MUNE with wide MIHABA and thick KASANE. The
gentle SORI finds his KAMAKURA IKUBI-KISSAKI.

A serene blue KO-ITAME has JI-NIE with standing MIDARE-UTSURI.

Jumbling KAWASU O-CHOJI-MIDARE unfolds through the lower and recedes to GUNOME in the upper - placing his typical trademark OSAFUNE MONOUCHI. The rise and fall of NIOI-FUKAI figures appear white. There are KINSUJI, ASHI and YO.

MIDARE-KOMI BOSHI is nearly YAKIZUME. NIE tends to HAKIKAKE.

O-SURIAGE NAKAGO has one MEKUGI-ANA and KINZOGAN-MEI:
MITSUTADA KOTOKU (CAO)

BIZEN KO-OSAFUNE MITSUTADA School

KAGEYASU JO-EI (br: MITSUTADA): Work to KO-AN 1278. This 
      smith is thought to be FUKUOKA KAGEYASU, although 
      some records place SHO-O KAGEYASU as MITSUTADAs' 
      son. Both theories might be correct with two smiths, 
      uncle and nephew. 
      KO-BIZEN to early FUKUOKA YAKIBA style KO-MIDARE of 
      KO-CHOJI BA. Special point thought passed to brother, 
      MITSUTADA: OSAFUNE MONOUCHI. The line settles to an 
      even or slightly varying CHU-width - where KO-ASHI 
      define segments that are sequentially blocked 
      together. 
      BOSHI becomes a SUGUHA or MIDARE that is smooth. 
      See MITSUTADA
 Tokubetsu Juyo Kageyasu 

YASUYUKI KA-REKI 1326

MITSUCHIKA SHO-O (f: MITSUTADA): CHU-KISSAKI, wide TACHI 
      SUGATA from the mid to late KAMAKURA transition. 
      Standing MIDARE-UTSURI walks across MOKUME JI-HADA. 
      GUNOME pushes through CHOJI BA. 
      OSAFUNE MONOUCHI where GUNOME pattern evens to a 
      near SUGU ceiling into the BOSHI.

KAGEHIDE(1) SHO-GEN (br: MITSUTADA): UMA-no-SUKE. Made 
      ICHIMONJI style OBUSA CHOJI-MIDARE and O-CHOJI 
      KO-MIDARE of ASHI.
      Maker of KURONBO-GIRI, DATE MASAMUNE's favorite 
      sword. 
 Tokubetsu Juyo Kagehide 

KAGEHIDE(2) KEN-GEN: Late KAMAKURA SUGATA. Width of 
      YAKIBA is approximately the same as the 1st, however 
      figures are more intensely packed - GUNOME rising in 
      CHOJI BA.

KAGEYORI SHO-O (f: KAGEHIDE): From KO-AN 1278 to KEN-GEN 
      1302. SAKON SHOGEN. SAEMONnoJO. Reference notes his 
      line as descendants from KO-BIZEN KAGEYORI. 
      MOKUME HADA. KO-MIDARE BA, evenly set CHOJI-MIDARE 
      or OSAFUNE-style gently varying fall and rise of 
      GUNOME-CHOJI MIDARE BA.
      See MITSUTADA. 
    MEI: KAGEYORI 
       KAGEYORI TSUKURU
       BIZEN-no-KUNI KAGEYORI TSUKURU
       BIZEN-no-KUNI JUNIN SAEMONnoJO KAGEYORI
       BIZEN-no-KUNI JUNIN SAKON SHOGEN KAGEYORI TSUKURU

KAGENORI(1) KO-AN (f: KAGEHIDE): A FUKUOKA ICHIMONJI smith 
      whose line founded YOSHII School. See YOSHII.

SHIGEYOSHI(1) KA-GEN (f: KAGEHIDE): Original KOZORI Founder. 
           KO-NIE CHOJI KO-MIDARE. See KOZORI School

SANEFUSA GEN-O (t: KAGEHIDE): Work to KEM-MU 1334. 
      MOKUME HADA. GUNOME-CHOJI MIDARE BA.
  MEI: BIZEN JUNIN SANEFUSA
       BISHU OSAFUNE JU SANEFUSA

Date Masamune

Date Kagehide - Juyo Bunkazai

Kagehide Sword of Date Masamune
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 4 Sun 1 Bu (73.02cm)
Sori: 6 Bu (1.82cm)
Motohaba: 1 Sun (3.03cm)
Sakihaba: 6 Bu 4 Rin (1.94cm)
Kissaki-naga: 1 Sun 1 Bu (3.48cm)
Moto-kasane: 2 Bu 4 Rin (0.73cm)
Saki-kasane 1 Bu 7 Rin (0.52cm)
Nakago: 6 Sun 9 Bu (21.06cm)

Masamune - A Great career amid the Great Men

Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, Koshizori Tachi with Chu-Kissaki.
Itame Hada has JiNie and standing Utsuri.
A forest of large-standing Choji spires rise tall Nakahodo through the mid, crossing the Shinogi in places. Reaching Togari knifes up from the heads. There is much Tobi-Yaki and Yo where Ko-Ashi pulls an even greater dynamic. Yakiba in deep Nioi-Fukashi and Ko-Nie.
Midare-Komi Boshi is nearly Yakizumi with a very short fall.
Suriage Kurijiri Nakago has four Mekugi-ana and signed at the bottom:
Kagehide

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