説明
「刀姿 sword figure」
鎬造り庵棟、身幅やや広く重尋常、鳥居反り、大鋒。茎は生で鑢目は切、茎尻は栗尻。
「地鉄 jigane」
地鉄は小板目肌に杢が交じり、地鉄良く詰み、地沸付く。
「刃紋 hamon」
刃紋は互の目乱れ、尖り刃を交え、刃緑沸付いて明るく締まり、刃中は葉、小足入る。 釯子は乱れ込み焼き深く、先掃き掛け返る。
「特徴 detailed」
肥前國住人伊予掾源宗次、本名、境三右衛門宗次。父は境内蔵丞正次で戦国大名鍋島家の家臣。文禄の役では藩主、鍋島直茂に従い朝鮮に渡海している。
宗次の先祖は平安時代まで遡れるが、鍛冶の初代は執権北条時宗の御家人、堺(境)又八郎源真高、彼が相州正宗の娘を娶り、その関係で政宗から十二通りの鍛え、七通りの打ち立て法を伝授された事に始まる。この真高の嫡男が肥前國長瀬に地頭として下ってから、肥前での歴史が始まる。その後、境家の主君は竜造寺家、鍋島家と変わって行く。
初代宗次は境内蔵丞正次の次男。長男の真正は武士の道を歩むため、天正十二年(1584)鍛冶稼業を弟の宗次に譲る。
その後、宗次は慶長十一年(1606)伊予掾を受領するが、同時に掾司ノ頭を拝命する。慶長十六年(1611)知行十四石で鍋島家に召し抱えられ、藩主より多数の注文を受けている。
肥前新刀と言えば忠吉家が上げられるが、実は宗次家の方が少し古い。
本作は、伊予掾宗次が得意とする相州伝で、先祖正宗からの家伝を再現しています。
Hizen no Kuni-junin Iyo no Jo Minamoto Munetsugu, whose real name was Sakai Saemon Munetsugu, was a swordsmith and retainer of the Nabeshima family, feudal lords of the Hizen domain. His father, Sakai Naizo Masatsugu, also served the Nabeshima family. Munetsugu accompanied his lord Nabeshima Naoshige to Korea during the Bunroku Campaign (1592–1593).
Munetsugu’s lineage can be traced back to the Heian period, with the family’s swordsmithing legacy beginning in the Kamakura period. The founding ancestor, Sakai Matahachiro Minamoto no Masataka, was a retainer of Hojo Tokimune and married the daughter of Soshu Masamune. Through this connection, he received instruction in Masamune’s renowned techniques, including twelve methods of forging and seven methods of tempering. The family settled in Nagase, Hizen Province, when Masataka’s heir was appointed local magistrate. Over time, their allegiance shifted from the Ryuzoji clan to the Nabeshima clan.
The first-generation Munetsugu, the second son of Sakai Naizo Masatsugu, took over the family’s swordsmithing craft in 1584 (Tensho 12) when his elder brother Masanao chose to pursue the path of a warrior. Munetsugu later received the title Iyo no Jo in 1606 (Keicho 11), and in the same year, was appointed as head of the swordsmithing guild. By 1611 (Keicho 16), he was granted an annual stipend of 14 koku and began receiving frequent commissions from the Nabeshima family.
While the Hizen Tadayoshi school is often considered the pinnacle of Hizen swordsmithing, the Munetsugu school predates it by several years.
This particular piece showcases Munetsugu’s Soshu-den style, a recreation of the techniques passed down from his ancestor, Masamune.
｢拵 Koshirae｣
柄巻は傷んでいたので巻替えました。金具は素晴らしく、鞘は焦茶色の堆朱に青貝散らし。コンディションも最高です。
The tsuka-maki was damaged, so it has been rewrapped. The fittings are exquisite, and the saya features a dark brown carved lacquer (tsuishu) finish with scattered mother-of-pearl inlays. The overall condition is excellent.
ハバキ(habaki) ：素銅地金着二重。
鍔(tsuba) ：鉄地菊透かし。
縁頭(futikasira)：鉄地肥後、頭は武蔵形。
目貫(menuki) ：金地龍の図。
柄(tsuka) ：柄は親粒が付き巻鮫、柄巻きは正絹黒の諸捻り巻き。
鞘(saya) ：焦茶色の堆朱に青貝散らし。
｢刀剣の状態 condition of blade｣
研：良好です。
傷：欠点に成るような傷は有りません。
