Japanese sword-making facts for kids
Japanese sword making has a long and interesting history! In Japan, the ways swords were made can be grouped in two main ways. One way is by the different areas or "provinces" where they were developed. The other way is by the famous masters who started their own special traditions of making swords.
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A Look Back at Sword Making
The late Kamakura period (around the 12th to 14th centuries) is often seen as the best time for making swords in Japan. The Soshu tradition was one of the most important styles. Sword makers like Kunitsuna and Sukezane combined their skills with ideas from the Yamashiro and Bizen traditions. This led to a group of very famous sword makers, with Masamune (who lived from 1264 to 1343 AD) and his school being the most well-known.
Different Kinds of Swords
Some very rare swords were made from five separate pieces of metal. They were also heated to very high temperatures. Swords from the Masamune School were known for being much harder than any swords made before them. Masamune taught at least ten students. Two of his students, Kanemitsu and Nagayoshi, came from the Bizen province. This shows how, in the early 14th century, the Masamune school attracted many skilled makers from other areas. It's believed that Kanemitsu started the Soden School, which mixed techniques from both Bizen and Soshu traditions.
Around the same time, another master named Chogi was developing his own school. Chogi's swords showed a stronger influence from the Soshu tradition compared to Kanemitsu's swords.
How Sword Schools Are Grouped
Japanese sword schools can be divided in a couple of ways: by where they were located, or by the famous people who started them.
Grouped by Regions
- Yamato-Den – This style came from five large schools connected to different temples.
- Bizen-Den – Many people think this was the starting point for making traditional Japanese swords.
- Yamashiro-Den - This style began in the late Heian period. Swords from this region often had thin and slender blades.
- Soshu-Den - This tradition started in the late Kamakura period. It was influenced by the Kamakura government at the time.
- Mino-Den – This is the newest of these five main traditions.
Grouped by Famous Masters
Several famous schools were created by skilled sword masters:
- Nagayoshi was a master who made even better swords. He did this by using the best ideas from both the Bizen and Soshu schools. He was successful because Bizen steel was softer and made at higher temperatures than the steel used by the Soshu school.
- Kaneuji I - It is thought that he started the Mino school in the Shizuyama area. When making swords, he used the Soshu style but also added his own special methods. Later, his tradition became known as the Shizu school.
- Kanemichi I - He founded the Mishina school in Mino province. His swords were highly valued for their excellent quality and sharpness. He became so famous that he received the special title of Mitsu-(no)-Kami.
- Emperor Gotoba (who ruled from 1184 to 1198 A.D) was the 82nd Emperor of Japan. He was also one of the most well-known sword makers himself!
- Miyairi Akihira School is a school that continues the Soshu tradition. In 1953, Miyairi Akihira received a license to make swords. Then, in 1973, he changed his name to Yukihira, and his school was named after him. His school was based on the Soshu-den and Shizu Kaneuji traditions.
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