Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword), known as "Dai Hannya Nagamitsu"

Title

Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword), known as "Dai Hannya Nagamitsu"

Description

By the artist Nagamitsu.

"Esteemed as being meibutsu, or a "famous piece," it was given by Ashikaga Yoshiteru (r. 1545–65) to Miyoshi Nagayoshi, a powerful daimyo. Later Oda Nobunaga gave it to Tokugawa Ieyasu to honor his success at the Battle of Anegawa (July 30, 1570). Ieyasu then gave it to Okudaira Nobumasa as a reward for his services in the Battle of Nagashino (June 29, 1575), and he in turn passed it to his son Matsudaira Masaaki, in whose family it was ultimately passed down. The sword is thus especially valuable as a well-documented example of a blade being exchanged among military houses as an expression of gratitude. "

Source

Tokyo National Museum.

Date

Kamakura period, 13th century.

Format

Steel; L. 29 in. (73.6 cm)

Files

Dai Hannya Nagamitsu.jpg
Date Added
May 9, 2011
Collection
Samurai Weaponry
Citation
“Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword), known as "Dai Hannya Nagamitsu",” Artists, Patrons, and Japanese Art, accessed March 19, 2024, https://artistandpatrons.omeka.net/items/show/19.