This article can be viewed as an indirect “bonus” chapter of the Tenga Goken series. In part 1, I mentioned in note #4 about an extra sword on the same page of the listing of Tenga Goken in the documentation entitled Meikenden, but wasn’t part of the group. This lone sword is known as Kanze Masamune (観世正宗). In an attempt to give it some shine, this article will cover the history of this sword, from its maker, to its recorded timeline in the hands of renown family lines.
Here are a few of this sword’s official details below.
Rank: National treasure
Type: katana (uchigatana)
Signature: not listed / modified
Sword line: Sōshū Masamune
Blade length: 73.6cm
Currently, Kanze Masamune is in collection of fine works at the Tokyo National Museum.
VALUE OF A MASAMUNE SWORD
In terms of Japanese swords, Kanze Masamune is categorized as a katana in today’s standards. In actuality, it is an uchigatana (打刀) according to the period it was created. This differs from the previous articles, as it is not a tachi (太刀) like the 5 swords of the Tenga Goken. In terms of status and design, this is a big deal, for tachi were considered a weapon bestowed on those warriors with a higher status. An uchigatana, on the other hand, was something most warriors could use. Despite the labeling, This doesn’t take away from the value a well-crafted uchigatana can possess; in fact, there were few lines of this that were sought after & commissioned to outfit certain warlords’ troops during Sengoku period, with one of them being the Muramasa-line of swords.
Focusing on Masamune, what type of swords were these, and who was the forefather of this style? The Masamune-line was established by Okazaki Masamune (岡崎正宗)¹, who was considered a talented swordsmith. This was around the Muromachi period, when power over control of Japan was sought after by powerful individuals, causing warlords and the like to engage in war with each other. Okazaki used different techniques from other smiths to make his swords high quality, durable, and visually appealling. It is said that his methods helped to reinvigorate craftmanship of Japanese swords by utilizing methods to craft otherwise high-quality swords, which drew many smiths to learn from him. Influential figures such as Oda Nobunaga praised Okazaki and his craftsmanship, and went as far as labeling him “best swordsmith of Japan”². Today, Okazaki is famously recognized as one of Japan’s greatest swordsmiths, with swords of the Masamune-line acclaimed as works of art.
Okazaki is recorded to have made tachi, uchigatana (katana), and tantō. However, those that have survived to modern times are those deemed as katana, tantō, and wakizashi. More on this later.
In comparison to the other 5 swords of the Tenga Goken, there really aren’t any amazing stories regarding the Kanze; no tales of it’s omni-potent spiritual powers, no writings regarding how it was battle-tested with great (or tragic) results on the battlefield, no usage in religious rituals or practices. It can be said that, although it’s passed through the hands of prominent families of the ages and is considered a high-quality sword with exquisite craftsmanship, the Kanze is more or less just a sword…and a fine one at that.
KANZE’S TRAITS
Kanze is labeled as being of the Sōshūden³ line of fine swords. A highly reputable line, Masamune acquired many apprentices who would contribute to the fame of the Masamune-style.
Although it is deemed as one of these select Masamune-style swords, when and by whom Kanze was crafted by is unknown. The reason behind this is because it is an ōsuriage mumei (大磨上無銘), which refers to when a sword is shortened by having part of its tang cut off. Usually the maker’s inscription is on the part of the tang that is cut off, which is probably the same reason why the Kanze has none. With this being the case, could it be that it was once the length of a proper tachi? What was the reason behind it being shortened to the length of an uchigatana? As Japan headed into peaceful times brought in during the unification by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo period, many battlefield-designed weapons were shortened to conform to the new, strict rules set by the ruling government. Long war swords known as tachi were targets of this, as many of them were shortened to lengths of the now-common katana, as well as the much shorter wakizashi⁴. For the Kanze, in place of an inscription on the tang are bonji (梵字, sansrit characters) on either side, a dragon, and a sword etched on it. It is thought that these were added after the sword’s length was shortened at a later date.
An interesting point about Kanze is a speculation about it having an alternate name, which is said to be “Mori Masamune” (森正宗). Rumors behind this name include that it was once the propery of a member from a specific Mori line (森家) in either Shinano or Tsuyama, or even owned by someone from the famous Mōri family (毛利家) known for their many merits in battles during the 1500s. While attempts to uncover this were made to verify the name claim, no solid proof has yet to be uncovered.
PIONEERS IN THE NOH WORLD
The name “Kanze” is tied to Nōraku no Kanze Sachika. Kanze was a family line during the Muromachi period who specialized in Yamato sarugaku (大和猿楽), a style of theatrical performance believed to be the roots for today’s Noh theatre. Elevating it from a simple public performance during festivals at temples to an in-house entertainment the elite sought after, this family is considered the “superstars” in the Noh world. The name “Sachiku” was first used by the 7th successor, which in turn became a title inherited by following successors.
It is thought that the sword came into the hands of the Kanze family through Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the 3rd shogun during the Muromachi Bakufu. This is around the time of when Kanami (観阿弥), or possibly his grandson Zeami (世阿弥), were active, and gained favor from the shogun to the point one or the other was rewarded for their talented performances.
Entertainers of Yamato sarugaku such as the Kanze family fell into a unique position in society, as their dance, storytelling, and the like was considered mystical and captivating. It became natural for their names to reach the ears of powerful individuals, as it became a status to watch & appreciate (and in some cases, to study) their artistic craft. As an example, Oda Nobunaga showed favor to Kanze Nagatoshi (観世長俊) and his son, Kanze Motoyori (元頼). It went as far as where Nobunaga granted Motoyori a shuinjo (朱印状), which is a special decree allowing him safe passage into Nobunaga’s territories.
Kanze Sōsetsu (観世宗節), the 7th head of this illustrious family, didn’t have the same luck. It appears that Sōsetsu, accompanied by his grandson Kuroyuki, struggled with gaining favor from land owners, warlords, and aristocrats. After some hardship, he managed to become an acquaintance of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the late 1500s, which from there he started receiving support. Some years later, the sword was offered as a gift, and became a treasure of the Tokugawa family. It is speculated that Sōsetsu, or possibly Kuroyuki when he became the 9th head of the Kanze family, had done so.
IN THE HANDS OF THE TOKUGAWA
In 1616, the 2nd Tokugawa shogun Tokugawa Hidetada allowed Honda Tadatoki, one of Ieyasu’s faithful and successful retainers, to marry his daughter Senhime. As a wedding gift, Kanze was also given to Tadatoki. However, 10 years later, Tadatoki passed away, which in turn had the sword returned back to the Tokugawa family. After regaining possession of the sword, it was held onto for several years before it was given to Matsudaira Mitsunaga on the day of his coming of age (becoming an adult) in 1629.
There was an occassion around 1663 when Ōmura Jizaemon Kaboku, who worked for the Matsudaira family from Echigo Takada Domain, was given the opportunity to inspect Kanze, along with other highly valued swords such as Dōjigiri Yasutsuna. Known for his profession as a doctor, he was also a sword maker. With this background, he was able to write detailed descriptions in a reference book called “Kentō Hihō” (剣刀秘宝).
Sometime in 1663, Mitsunaga would give Kanze to Tokugawa Iemitsu as a gift. In return, Iemitsu gave Mitsunaga around 400 special rectangle-shaped gold coins called “hankin” (判金), a currency used from the Edo period to the Meiji period. From this point on, Kanze would remain in the collection of the Tokugawa Shogunate as it was passed down from one sibling or generation to another. This continued up until the late 1800s, where it’s believed that the 15th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu gave this sword to Prince Arisugawa Taruhito (有栖川宮熾仁親王)⁵. Being the 9th head of one of four prestigious family branches eligible to ascend the Imperial throne, Taruhito had an illustrious career as a military man of the Imperial army. At some point later, it is said that Kanze would be inherited by the Takamatsu-no-miya, a branch of the Imperial family⁶.
A PIECE OF A MUSEUM
Kanze would eventually be purchased by the “Bunkazai Hogo Iinkai” (文化財保護委員会, National Commission for Protection of Cultural Properties) in 1957. In 1979, it was deemed as a national treasure. A few years later, in May of 1961, Kanze was up for display in a special exhibit called “Masamune to sono Ichimon”, held at Ginza Matsuya. Prince Nobuhito of the Takamatsu-no-miya, the family whom had this sword last, went to attend the exhibition. When Prince Nobuhito happened to see Kanze, he spoke good about it, as if he was reunited with an old acquaintance.
From 1961 onward, Kanze is in the safe keeping amongst the collection of the Tokyo National Museum, where it is up for display.
ENDING
Kanze Masamune does not have an elaborate back story like those of the Tenga Goken. This is not unusual, for there are numerous swords in existence, both old and new, that were crafted for fulfilling tangible purposes, such as being works of art. Despite that, this sword is a product of the renown Masamune-style of craftsmanship, and was evaluated to be of quality wothry to grace the same page as the 5 great swords of Japan.
1) Also known as “Gorō Nyūdo Masamune” (五郎入道正宗)
2) Read as “Tenka ichi no tōkō” (天下一の刀工) in Japanese
3) Sōshuuden means the smithing methods from notable swordsmiths from the eastern area in Japan known as Sōshū (相州), or also called Sagami-no-kuni (相模国). This area is present-day Kanagawa Prefecture.
4) Wakizashi are longer than tantō, but shorter than katana
5) While the idea of the Imperial line being of a single family is not far-fetched, in truth successors are occassionally chosen from specific family lineages that were established as parallel lines. These family lines are knonw as seshu shinnoke (世襲親王家). These four families are the following:
- Arisugawa-no-miya (Taruhito’s family line)
- Fushimi-no-miya
- Katsura-no-miya
- Kanin-no-miya
6) Takamatsu-no-miya was the new name for the Arisugawa-no-miya branch in early 1900s, after no male heirs were produced