AOE 青江
description
Transcript of AOE 青江
AOE青江
BaudenelleMicha 2010
The old Kibi region is situated in today’s Okayama Perfecture.The old Kibi region is situated in today’s Okayama Perfecture.The Yoshii-, the Asahi- and the Takahashi river are the The Yoshii-, the Asahi- and the Takahashi river are the
mainreason of the location. These rivers carried rich sand mainreason of the location. These rivers carried rich sand iron.iron.
Around these 3 rivers one finds the Bizen and the Around these 3 rivers one finds the Bizen and the BitchuAoeSchools in the Heian period.BitchuAoeSchools in the Heian period.
Yoshii Yoshii Osafune School Osafune SchoolAsahi Asahi Fukuoka Ichimonji School Fukuoka Ichimonji SchoolTakahashi Takahashi Aoe School Aoe School
Geographical considerations
Historical considerationsHistorical considerationsThe Aoe started in the late Heian period. Some sources name The Aoe started in the late Heian period. Some sources name Yasutsugu Yasutsugu
as the founderas the founder. . There are no swords left by Yasutsugu, so his son There are no swords left by Yasutsugu, so his son Moritsugu is mostly considered the founder.Moritsugu is mostly considered the founder.
Unlike theBizen School, which wasprosperous until the end of the Unlike theBizen School, which wasprosperous until the end of the Muromachi period, the Aoe School ended at the late Nambokucho or Muromachi period, the Aoe School ended at the late Nambokucho or early Muromachi period (depends on the source).early Muromachi period (depends on the source).
Unlike the Bizen School, which created sub-schools, the Aoe School did Unlike the Bizen School, which created sub-schools, the Aoe School did not. Among the Bizen sub-Schools are the Ichimonji, Osafune, and not. Among the Bizen sub-Schools are the Ichimonji, Osafune, and Hatakeda among others.Hatakeda among others.The Aoe School wasvery conservative and The Aoe School wasvery conservative and did not form into cliques. The names of smiths were handed down did not form into cliques. The names of smiths were handed down for generations (mostly including the ‘tsugu’-kanji) and the for generations (mostly including the ‘tsugu’-kanji) and the workmanship did not change a lot.workmanship did not change a lot.
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The workmanship of the Aoe School is very high quality and has been The workmanship of the Aoe School is very high quality and has been admired since its start. Among the 12 smiths invited to work with admired since its start. Among the 12 smiths invited to work with Emperor Gotoba (Goban Kaji) 3 werefromthe Bitchu Aoe School.Emperor Gotoba (Goban Kaji) 3 werefromthe Bitchu Aoe School.
Sadatsugu, Tsunetsugu and Tsuguie, the three sons ofMunetsugu, all Sadatsugu, Tsunetsugu and Tsuguie, the three sons ofMunetsugu, all belonged to the Ko-Aoe School.belonged to the Ko-Aoe School.
At the beginning there’s little difference between the ko-Bizen School At the beginning there’s little difference between the ko-Bizen School and the Aoe School. and the Aoe School.
One can distinguish 3 periods of manufacture:One can distinguish 3 periods of manufacture: Ko-AOE (earlyperiod)Ko-AOE (earlyperiod) Chu-AOE (midperiod)Chu-AOE (midperiod) Sue-AOE (lateperiod)Sue-AOE (lateperiod)There are many disagreements concerning these divisions. Regardless There are many disagreements concerning these divisions. Regardless
which theory one follows, the quality of Aoe blades is consistently which theory one follows, the quality of Aoe blades is consistently good. Most difficulty arises from the fact the Aoe School is very good. Most difficulty arises from the fact the Aoe School is very conservative and so marking differences is not easy.conservative and so marking differences is not easy.
Ko-AOE
Late Heian – mid-Kamakura
Ko– AOE SchoolSUGATA
Standard length for that time Fine form with relatively wide kasane High shinogiKoshi-soriFumbariKo-kissaki
Ko–AOE SchoolJIHADA
Ko-itame with ko-mokume, Ji-nie with fine chikeiSumiganeJifu utsuriO-hada (less in later period)
CHIRIMEN HADA
Chirimenhada
Ko– AOE SchoolHAMON
Midare on suguha basisashi and yokumo-no-iwatomuchniekinsuji, sunagashiha-hada is visible
Ko– AOE SchoolBOSHI
Suguha, midarePointed maruKaeri
Occasionally Ichimonji boshi or yakizume
Ichimonjiboshi
Ko– AOE SchoolNAKAGO
Little sori
Mostly o-sujikai yasurime sometimes kiri
mei - 2 kanji
katana mei (specific for Aoe School)
Chu-AOE
Mid-Kamakura – early Nambokucho
Chu– AOE SchoolSUGATA
Tachi, tanto, ko-wakizashi, nagamaki andnaginata
Broad sugata High shinogi Less koshi-sori, more torii-sori Fumbari disappears Elongated kissaki (but not yet o-kissaki)
Chu–AOE SchoolJIHADA
more variationsKo-itame with ko-mokume, Ji-nie with fine chikeiLess sumigane Jifu and shirake utsuri are less frequent O-hada is very rare
CHIRIMEN HADA
Chu– AOE School
HAMON
Midare on suguha basisSaka-ashi and saka-chojiKinsuji, sunagashiKo-nieHa-hada is still visible
Chu– AOE SchoolBOSHI
Suguha, midarePointedmaruKaeri
In this period the Aoe-boshi develops
AOE boshi
Sue-AOE
Mid-Nambokucho – early Muromachi
Sue– AOE SchoolSUGATA
O-tachi, tanto ko-wakizashi, nagamaki andnaginata
Broadform High shinogiTorii-soriO-kissaki
Sue–AOE SchoolJIHADA
Ko-itame with ko-mokume, Sumigane is getting scarce Sometimes little shirake utsuri Harder jigane
CHIRIMEN HADA
Sue– AOE SchoolHAMON
Midare on suguha basisSaka-chojiKinsuji, sunagashiNioi-guchi became tighter and brighter Nioi base, this is very specific for Sue-Aoe, other Schools
made more Nie (Soshu influence) except for the Aoe School
Sue– AOE SchoolBOSHI
Suguha, midarePointedmaruKaeri getting longer
NAKAGO
Little information (due to suriage)
Inspiredby:
*Nihonto bijutsu numbers 4, 25,30 and 31*BitchuAoe school, Fred Weissberg*Connoisseurs book of Japanese Swords, Nagayama*Nihonto Kozo part II*Swords of the Bizen tradition, Benson & Brockbank