Korean swords

[Mikaveli]

So, kinda off topic, by definition, but I've always fancied a Korean sword in my collection.

 

Mainly because I did / do Korean marital arts. They also do a form of Kenjutsu, but always use reproductions.

 

I don't want a sword to "use", but the only things I've found are Japanese occupation swords, not anything domestic to Korea?

 

Any pointers, to scratch my itch? 🙂

[Hoshi]

Hello, 

 

They are incredibly rare to begin with and appeal to collectors in Korea and China who operate in a completely different financial league.

 

Finding one is like stumbling on a great treasure. 

 

They are rare because the Korean cultural forces that shaped the Chosen dynasty did not value their arms, private ownership was always seen as a problematic matter, and they suffered enormous devastation from wars over the centuries that led to many waves of disarmament. 

 

Many of the better Korean swords tend to have Japanese blades, these were a prime export of the time. 

 

Here is an example: https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/joseon-byeolun-geom

 

Compare with the more usual blades found: https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/korean-ceremonial-saber

 

Best,

 

Hoshi

[Mikaveli]

The second link is more of what I had in mind (the first is just a Japanese sword in Korean fittings).

 

On the surface (to my untrained eyes), it looks like a fairly low-end machine produced blade?

 

In any case, what's the ball park for something like that? I'm guessing considerably more than an equivalent gunto, from what you've said?

[Hoshi]

 

Really difficult for me to tell. 

 

16th century complete Joseon dynasty with Japanese style curved blade for the lettered nobility, you're probably looking at six/seven figures and it will climb fast (e.g., white jade tsuba, tortoise shell koshirae, the hallmarks of royalty). They are almost completely extinct and are considered invaluable cultural artifacts.  

 

Late 19th century utilitarian infantry, Chinese-style sword with simple construction, perhaps closer to a high-end Gunto. 

 

Here is an interview of one of the whales in the field, he would be the right person to ask: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2008/12/16/features/Blade-Man-and-the-spirit-of-the-sword/2898663.html

 

Quote

Q.There are said to be only 300 extant swords from the Joseon Dynasty. Why are there so few left?

A. There was a lot of looting by Japanese invaders in the past and many swords were probably sold to U.S. military personnel after the country gained its independence and the U.S. military maintained a presence here. Nevertheless, the fact that swords were expendable and distributed by the government played a big role. Unlike Japan, the government had a monopoly over the manufacture and management of swords, and the number of swords was not that big in the first place. When the country was lost to Japan during the colonial period [1910-1945], swords in the government’s armory became lost sheep.

 

The good ones are so rare, when discovered, they make the news (especially if they belonged to a scholar, that is a big deal in Korea): 

 

An unlike Japanese swords, there is no NBHTK. Chinese fakes are everywhere, undisclosed repair, etc - if you think Nihonto is filled with peril, beware the waters next to it.

 

Best,

 

Hoshi  

[Rivkin]

Hmm, there are quality Korean swords and certainly some rare treasures, but rather distant relatives to the examples shown... and ambitious descriptions provided.

 

First issue - there is one early book and after that you have very little published. Another difficulty is a possibility of Japanese manufacture as part of Namban style, and uncertain origin of some common types, like 15th-16th century hirazukuri waki which are a relatively common find in a general region. Nakago, "boshi" tend to be distinguishing factors in most cases, but sometimes the condition prevents from ascertaining those.

 

Collector's community is small, the prices are a bit unstable - because its small. You see people paying considerably for something that makes you wonder, and then a better example can't find a buyer at 800. 

Niche topic, and very few people actually bothered to physically study the more important collections. But then as strangely as it sounds, the situation with Chinese swords is not tremendously better.