Edo Period Norimitsu??

[gtstcactus]

Hi,

 

I am trying to find out any and all I can about the swordsmith Norimitsu, who signed the mei in the picture.

 

Am I right in thinking it says BISHU OSAFUNE JUNIN NORIMITSU?

He is meant to be from sometime during the edo period.

 

Could someone tell me exactly what this says??

 

I gather osafune is the village in Bizen, Norimitsu being the smith. So what part do Bishu and junin play in this signature?

 

I've searched for the answer but can't find one so I now ask the members. I've been thru the swordsith database and found lots of Norimitsu smiths some with the Bishu but not with Junin in the mei. have I got it wrong? Does it just say Bishu Osafune Norimitsu? If so which one???? I'm told it's "one from the edo period" but thats not to specific!

[John A Stuart]

You've read correctly. no ju and no junin really mean much the same, living in or person living in (inhabitant) of, in this case Bishu (Bizen). These smiths are late 15th century period. John

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Bishu 備州 is the contracted form of Bizen (no) kuni 備前国

[george trotter]

To clarify even further...BISHU refers to three areas which make up the one larger area.. Starting with the closest to Edo, they are, BIZEN (zen - fore), BITCHU (chu=middle/centre) and BINGO (go = after). Okayama village was in Bizen portion.

Other provinces are like this Hizen/Higo...Echizen, Etchu, Echigo...etc. As far as I know (haven't checked) these are always running away from the direction of the capital.

Regards,

George.

edit: forgot to mention, Bishu on a sword usually refers as general term for the whole province, but as it has Osafune also, you can tell it is Bizen that is meant.

[Ian]

To clarify even further...BISHU refers to three areas which make up the one larger area.. Starting with the closest to Edo, they are, BIZEN (zen - fore), BITCHU (chu=middle/centre) and BINGO (go = after). Okayama village was in Bizen portion.

Other provinces are like this Hizen/Higo...Echizen, Etchu, Echigo...etc. As far as I know (haven't checked) these are always running away from the direction of the capital

 

Thank you for the info, it seems so obvious now !

 

Regards

[gtstcactus]

You've read correctly. no ju and no junin really mean much the same, living in or person living in (inhabitant) of, in this case Bishu (Bizen). These smiths are late 15th century period. John

 

I was told this sword was an edo period sword... I've been thru the swordsmith data base and can't quite match a sig to my satisfaction.

 

Could anyone tell me when this norimitsu was making swords? I was told edo, but got the impression from someone it may be from earlier times... any input appreciated!

[cabowen]

According to the Meikan there were no smiths with this signature working in the Edo era. There was a long line of Norimitsu smiths working in Osafune up until the later 16th century, meaning sue koto....It is possible that it is one of the last of that line....