AS26517 Wakizashi:Hizen no Kuni Ju Minamoto Munetsugu (1st Generation) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering Number: AS26517

Wakizashi in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Hizen no Kuni Ju Minamoto Munetsugu (1st Generation)
肥前国住源宗次(初代)

Sayagaki (Inscription on the Shirasaya): Hizen no Kuni Ju Minamoto Munetsugu, Wakizashi.
Blade Length: 1 shaku 6 sun 1 bu.
March 3, 1961.
Inscribed by Kishida Toan.

Shinto: Jyo Saku: Kan’ei Era: Hizen Province
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Hizen no Kuni Ju Minamoto Munetsugu.
Habaki: Silver iroe habaki engraved with the Futatsu Tomoe (double swirling comma) crest.
Blade Length: 49.2 cm (19.37 in).
Curvature: 2.0 cm (0.79 in).
Mekugi Hole: 2.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.85 cm (1.12 in).
Width at Yokote: 2.05 cm (0.81 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.54 cm (0.21 in).
Sword Weight: 455 g.
Era: Around the Kan’ei era (1624–1644), Edo period.
Shape: A beautifully proportioned wakizashi with a relatively wide mihaba, deep curvature, and an elongated kissaki.
Jigane: Beautifully refined and well-forged jigane displaying fine ko-nuka hada, characteristic of Hizen swords.
Hamon: Nie-deki gunome-midare.
The boshi displays a midare-komi pattern.

Features: Hizen no Kuni Ju Minamoto Munetsugu (1st Generation) was a swordsmith from present-day Saga Prefecture whose personal name was Sakai San’emon.
In 1606 (Keicho 11), he received the honorary title of Iyo no Jo and was later granted the higher title of Iyo Daijo.
He was active as a swordsmith in the service of the Saga domain.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: An iron tsuba featuring openwork inome (boar’s-eye) and spherical motifs.
Fuchikashira: Fittings carved with figures and landscape scenes, decorated with gold and silver iroe.
Saya (Scabbard): Red lacquered saya with a finely ribbed sendan-kizami pattern.
Kojiri: Silver kojiri decorated with a nanako pattern.
Menuki: Shakudo menuki carved with rice-ear motifs and decorated with gold iroe.
Kozuka: Shakudo nanako kozuka carved with figures and landscape scenes, highlighted with gold iroe.
Kogatana: Included.

Historical Background: The Kan’ei era (1624–1644) of the Edo period largely coincided with the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd Tokugawa shogun.
It was an extremely important period during which the political and administrative structure of the Edo shogunate, known as the bakuhan system, became firmly established.

During these years, Japan experienced major political reforms, devastating disasters, and the flourishing of sophisticated cultural traditions.
The shogunate strengthened its control over the daimyo and the Imperial Court while introducing increasingly restrictive foreign policies that eventually developed into the system commonly known as sakoku (national seclusion).

Mandatory Sankin-kotai (Alternate Attendance System, 1635): In 1635, the shogunate revised the Buke Shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses), making the sankin-kotai system compulsory for daimyo throughout Japan.
Under this system, feudal lords were required to alternate their residence between their domains and Edo.
The substantial financial burden of maintaining residences and traveling between them helped prevent rebellion while contributing to the economic prosperity of Edo.

Gradual Implementation of the Sakoku Edicts (1633–1639): Between 1633 and 1639, the shogunate issued a series of restrictive decrees intended to suppress Christianity and regulate foreign trade.
In 1635, Japanese subjects were prohibited from traveling overseas or returning from abroad.
In 1639, Portuguese ships were banned from entering Japan, completing the principal framework of the sakoku system.

The Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion (1637–1638): This was one of the largest uprisings in Japanese history.
It took place in the Shimabara and Amakusa regions of Kyushu, where local inhabitants rebelled against oppressive taxation and the persecution of Christianity by their feudal rulers.
The shogunate faced considerable difficulties suppressing the rebellion.
Following its suppression, the government intensified its efforts to eliminate Christianity, including the widespread use of fumie (religious images that suspected Christians were required to step on).
＊Please note there is a small chippign on the Monouti area.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token.
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.

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