Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword), known as "Ō-Kanehira" (Great Kanehira)

Title

Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword), known as "Ō-Kanehira" (Great Kanehira)

Description

By the artist Kanehira.

Kanehira was one of the smiths of the oldest province of Bizen, the most productive site of sword production from the Heian through the Muromachi period. The steel is layered so many times the blade developes visible steel crystals, the silver edge. This peice is famous for being the longest sword that Kanehira produced, naming it "Ō-Kanehira" (Great Kanehira). It was a treasured possession of Ikeda Terumasa, lord of Okayama Castle, and was long the most important sword in his family's collection.

Source

Tokyo National Museum.

Date

Heian period, 12th century

Format

Steel; L. 35 1/8 in. (89.2 cm)

Files

Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword).jpg
Date Added
May 9, 2011
Collection
Samurai Weaponry
Citation
“Blade for a Tachi (Slung Sword), known as "Ō-Kanehira" (Great Kanehira),” Artists, Patrons, and Japanese Art, accessed March 29, 2024, https://artistandpatrons.omeka.net/items/show/18.