katana; shirazaya; tachi

Description
a) Katana (long sword blade); shortened tachi. Made of steel, copper. Yamato school, Nanbokucho period. 14th century. b) Shirazaya (plain wooden storage scabbard).


Production date
14thC

Production place
Made in: Japan
Asia: Japan


Curator's comments
"Tachi" type blade Yamato school, Nambokucho period, 14th century This cut-down tachi blade has the characteristics of the yamato school, who made cutting weapons for the 'sohei', or warrior monks of the great temples in and around Nara during the Heian and Kamakura periods. The folding grain is predominantly longitudinal, or 'masame', and the hamon is straight with small variations of nie crystals. There were several generations of smiths of the tegai school, signing Norinaga from the 13th through to the 15th century.


Materials
Stee;
Copper
Gold
Wood
Ivory

Acquisition date
1958


Museum number
1958,0730.11.a-b