Early Go Yoshihiro examples with Yamato influence

[Lewis B]

I didn't want to populate @MassiveMoonHehthread with a load of images but thought a more indepth discussion of the potential connection between Senjuin Yoshihiro and Go was warranted.

This is a Juyo Senjuin Yoshihiro blade. I see a lot of Yamato Senjuin style with some Soshu influence like chikei. There is also some semblance to Norshige's hada with mokume elements. So how did Senjuin Yoshihiro come to learn these forging styles and tempering. It's certainly conceivable Go was the conduit through which Senjuin Yoshihiro acquired these different Soshuden techniques, having a direct connection with the early Soshu smiths and Norishige.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A tanto dated 1353 signed by Senjuin Yoshihiro (resident of Soekami District, Yamato) has stronger Sagami features ie nie laden, kinsuji, hakikake boshi. As Dr Honma stated, when the tanto was revealed to the public many thought this was a work by Go. But the active dates did not fit. 

 

 

 

[Lewis B]

Many thanks to @Jussi Ekholm for linking the Nagoya Token World sword database. https://www.touken-world.jp/search/

 

Fascinating collection of survivor blades, many signed, from the Koto era. Condition is optimal for study and I appreciate the effort they have put into documenting their collection. 

 

In that collection I came across a very interesting mumei TJ Senjuin blade that is similar to my kodachi.

 

An offshoot of the Senjuin school migrated from Yamato to the Hokuriku region (encompassing the Prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, and Toyama). It is believed that Go Yoshihiro emerged from this group and that would correspond to the geographical region where he is said to have lived and worked and the location of Matsukura Castle in present day Toyama Prefecture. 

 

This particular example in the Token World collection bears strong resemblance to my Senjuin in terms of sugata and jitetsu, even the application of the bohi carving and ko-kissaki are quite similar. However the museums blade lacks the nie-deki forging style, chikei and fine ara nie often associated with Soshuden and Go in particular. Historically my Senjuin, with its Soshu and Yamato features, was attributed to Go Yoshihiro and as a possible transitional piece from Go's early swordmaking period, before fully embracing the Soshu style, is worthy of further study. 

 

https://www.touken-world.jp/search-noted-sword/tokubetsujuyotoken-meito/6370/

 

 

Video

 

Edited April 23 by Lewis B

[eternal_newbie]

10 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

I appreciate the effort they have put into documenting their collection.

 

Agreed; their photographs and descriptions have been useful in my own research as well. Not quite the super-detailed resolution you can find on some of the online museums, but a good deal better than most, particularly when it comes to getting different angles and orientations of the blade. Even better, several of their pieces are also showcased on their Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@touken-world/videos