{"product_id":"authentic-shinto-era-wakizashi-for-sale-masatsugu-tozando","title":"Authentic Shinto Era Wakizashi for Sale - Masatsugu | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Wakizashi, signed Sōshū-jū Masatsugu\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEdo Hōjōji school · Musashi province (Edo) · c. Kyōhō era, mid-Edo period\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis wakizashi bears the signature \u003cem\u003eSōshū-jū Masatsugu\u003c\/em\u003e (相州住正次). It is attributed to the \u003cstrong\u003eEdo Hōjōji school\u003c\/strong\u003e, a group of smiths working in Musashi province — the province of Edo, today's Tokyo — around the \u003cstrong\u003eKyōhō era\u003c\/strong\u003e of the mid-Edo period (the early-to-mid 18th century).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA Sōshū signature on an Edo blade — why?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt first glance the signature seems to place the smith in Sōshū (Sagami, present-day Kanagawa), yet the workmanship points to the Hōjōji school of Edo. This is not a contradiction but a window into the blade's lineage. The Hōjōji school were noted heirs to the \u003cstrong\u003eSōshū tradition\u003c\/strong\u003e (Sōshū-den) — the celebrated style of Masamune, built on brilliant \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e activity and flowing, energetic temper lines. The school's founder was even counted among the \"three disciples of Sōshū Sadamune.\" To inscribe \u003cem\u003eSōshū-jū\u003c\/em\u003e — \"resident of Sōshū\" — was for such a smith a declaration of the tradition he worked in, an homage to the source of his style rather than a literal statement of his street address. Reading that signature against the actual workmanship is part of the pleasure of a blade like this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Edo Hōjōji school\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Hōjōji line traces back to Tajima province and rose to prominence in Edo, the shogunal capital, during the early Edo period. Working in the Sōshū idiom, its smiths were known for vigorous, \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e-laden hardening and bright activity within the edge. By the Kyōhō era, when this blade was made, Edo was the thriving center of a peaceful, prosperous samurai society, and its swordsmiths were heirs to that refined urban culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wakizashi in \u003cem\u003eshōbu-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e — the \"iris-leaf\" form, without the usual transverse \u003cem\u003eyokote\u003c\/em\u003e line at the point, giving the blade a clean, elegant profile — finished with an \u003cem\u003eiori-mune\u003c\/em\u003e (peaked back). It is gracefully proportioned with well-judged curvature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is an \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e grain with abundant \u003cem\u003emokume\u003c\/em\u003e mixed throughout, worked in \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e across the surface in the Sōshū manner. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cem\u003esuguha\u003c\/em\u003e (straight temper) with a gentle \u003cem\u003enotare\u003c\/em\u003e undulation and a bright \u003cem\u003enioiguchi\u003c\/em\u003e, enlivened within the edge by \u003cem\u003ekinsuji\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003einazuma\u003c\/em\u003e — the bright \"golden lines\" and \"lightning\" streaks of \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e activity that are among the most prized effects of Sōshū-style work. The \u003cem\u003ebōshi\u003c\/em\u003e (temper in the point) is pointed and turns back. The blade is in sound, healthy condition (\u003cem\u003ekenzen\u003c\/em\u003e) and entirely suitable for appreciation as it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe signature\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is signed on the omote (front) face of the tang: \u003cem\u003eSōshū-jū Masatsugu\u003c\/em\u003e (相州住正次). It retains a single \u003cem\u003emekugi-ana\u003c\/em\u003e (peg hole), and the \u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e (tang) carries the even patina of age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is housed in a plain wood \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e, the traditional resting mount that protects the steel between viewings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA signed, mid-Edo wakizashi in the elegant shōbu-zukuri form, attributed to the Sōshū-style Hōjōji school of Edo — a blade whose Sōshū signature, bright nie-laden steel, and kinsuji-and-inazuma activity together tell the story of how Masamune's tradition lived on in the swordsmiths of the shogunal capital.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wakizashi (short sword)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Sōshū-jū Masatsugu (相州住正次), omote side only\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSchool:\u003c\/strong\u003e Edo Hōjōji school (attributed)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvince:\u003c\/strong\u003e Musashi (Edo, present-day Tokyo)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mid-Edo, c. Kyōhō era (early–mid 18th c.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTradition (den):\u003c\/strong\u003e Sōshū-den\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e itame with abundant mokume, nie-laden (nie-deki)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e suguha with gentle notare, bright nioiguchi, with kinsuji and inazuma\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBōshi:\u003c\/strong\u003e pointed, turned back (togari, kaeri)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 37.7 cm \/ 14.84 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.9 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 28.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.6 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e shōbu-zukuri, iori-mune\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMekugi-ana:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e shirasaya\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ōita 4050\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"TOZANDO KATANA SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53439324881259,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-oita4050","price":250000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/oita4050_masatsugu_1.jpg?v=1782806256","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-shinto-era-wakizashi-for-sale-masatsugu-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}