AS25418 Tanto：Ryokai (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)(Consignment Sale)

Tanto in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)(Consignment Sale)

Signature: Ryokai
了戒

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku (the highest grade) among the works by Ryokai.
Habaki: Double-layered, gold-plated.
Blade Length: 21.2 cm (8.35 in)
Curvature: 0 cm
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.23 cm (0.88 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.50 cm (0.20 in)
Sword Weight: 100 g
Era: Kamakura period, around Einin era (circa 1293)
Shape: A rather small tanto with standard width and thickness.
Jigane: Ko-itame hada is well-forged and beautifully refined. Utsuri appears on the blade, and a bohi (groove) is carved on both sides.
Hamon: Made in nioi-deki, a straight hamon with deeply defined nioiguchi. The boshi turns back gracefully in a ko-maru shape.

Features: Ryokai was a swordsmith from Yamashiro province and is said to have been the son of Rai Kunitoshi.
He worked in the early Kamakura period, around the Einin era (1293).

Koshirae: This koshirae is magnificently crafted with a dragonfly (tonbo) motif, symbolizing victory (kachimushi).
Saya (Scabbard): Black lacquered saya with painted dragonflies.
Kojiri: Iron base with engraved dragonfly design, decorated in gold.
Umabari: Iron base with engraved dragonfly design, decorated in gold.
Kurigata: Iron base with engraved dragonfly design, decorated in gold.
Fuchikashira: Iron base with engraved dragonfly design, decorated in gold.
Menuki: Carved maki-e box motif (possibly solid gold?).

Aoi Art’s Comment: As you may know, signed works by Ryokai rarely appear on the market.
This is a healthy tanto with beautifully refined jigane characteristic of Yamashiro.
The deeply defined nioiguchi makes this a remarkable piece.
The entire koshirae is decorated with dragonfly motifs and is superbly made.
It seems that this piece, along with its koshirae, was carefully treasured and preserved through the ages.

Historical Background: During the Kamakura period, when the Hojo Tokuso family established autocratic power within the shogunate, the hardships of the gokenin (vassals) reached a critical point.
To address this crisis, the Kamakura shogunate issued the Einin Tokuseirei (Einin Debt Cancellation Edict).
In 1297 (Einin 5), the 9th regent Hojo Sadatoki issued this law to allow gokenin to recover their lost lands under certain conditions.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigata