© Copyright Robert Cole 2015 - No copying or distributing -
YAMASHIRO
AWATAGUCHI       * From SANJO's Fertile Garden Plot *




The AWATAGUCHI was the flowering of KAMAKURA Period YAMASHIRO. 
Three of founder, KUNIIYEs' sons were members of the ICHIMONJI, 
and therefore recognized as major contributors to the fundamental 
technology that brought the advancement of the Japanese Sword.






SHOGEN~
          GOBAN
 -KUNITOMO
 -HISAKUNI
 -KUNIYASU

OKI GOBAN
 -NORIKUNI
 -KAGEKUNI
 -KUNITSUNA
Technical: SUGATA - Deep KAMAKURA TORIIZORI with greater strength 
                    than SANJO. SEMAI (narrow) SHINOGI-JI. MITSU-
                    MUNE TANTO are many. Stout KISSAKI. Carvings
                    may be deeply cut. BO-HI. SUKEN, sword shaped
                    carvings, may have large head. Note: If arc 
                    in the upper keeps talking, think HISAKUNI.
             HADA - The finely done KO-MOKUME that made the 
                    expression NASHI-JI "JI of Pear" famous. The
                    steel might appear drawn and running but 
                    always remains knit. Clear blue. Can exhibit
                    purple tones. Excellent JI-NIE is expected.
                    A moist appearance from finely worked steel 
                    is specific and trademark to YAMASHIRO. This 
                    wet quality is expected of the AWATAGUCHI. 
                    CHIKEI may be found. NIE UTSURI or NIE JI-BA 
                    is an AWATAGUCHI badge appearing like wet NIE 
                    island or patch-like areas that dot along or 
                    above the HAMON. Note: MU-JI has stumbled the 
                    inexperienced. NASHI-JI HADA is not rough, 
                    age and obvious quality are its teacher.
            HAMON - Mostly HOSO-SUGUHA. Also SUGU KO-MIDARE with 
                    YO, SUGU KO-CHOJI or KO-CHOJI MIDARE in fine 
                    "Gold" KO-NIE that is strong. Temperature 
                    differential at the HA created NIJUBA-like 
                    effects in some examples. INAZUMA and KINSUJI 
                    are found; and UCHINOKE (esp. KUNIYASU).
            BOSHI - An extension of the HAMON, or HOSO-SUGU that 
                    appears "slack," YAKIZUMI or KO-MARU next to
                    the MUNE - or KAEN. Often stronger NIE. NIE 
                    particles can become ARA "rough."
           NAKAGO - Signatures are smith names. 

_______            
KAGEHISA     ______________________________________
SHO-AN 1171  "The Six Sons" of AWATAGUCHI KUNIIYE GEN-RYAKU 1184
    __________ __________ __________ _________|___________
___|____   ___|____   ___|____   ___|____   __|____   ____|____
KUNITOMO   HISAKUNI   KUNIYASU   KUNIKIYO   ARIKUNI   KUNITSUNA 
   | 1st        2nd        3rd        4th       5th         6th
___|____ 
NORIKUNI                                             
   |______________________ ____________ ____________
___|_____   ______________|_____   ____|_____   ____|___
KUNIYOSHI   AWATAGUCHI KUNIMITSU   YOSHIMITSU   KUNINOBU
              ____________|_____  
              SHINTOGO KUNIMITSU
               See Shintogo in Sagami
YAMASHIRO AWATAGUCHI "The Six Sons" of AWATAGUCHI KUNIIYE

     ~ The AWATAGUCHI: The TORIN family of KYOTO ~

KAGEHISA SHO-AN: MASAME. HOSO-SUGUHA and KO-MIDARE BA.

KUNIIYE BUN-JI (f: KUNIYORI): AWATAGUCHI Founder.  TORIN YAKURO.
        Although one reference places him from WASHU SOREKAMI-
        KORI, YAMATO, he and his school are considered SANJO and 
        GOJO line smiths. Work period from BUN-JI 1185 to GEN-NIN
        1224. His six sons are the AWATAGUCHI masters. Three were 
        ICHIMONJI. - See the "Six Sons" following

SUYEMASA KEN-KYU (t: KUNIIYE): Work to KEN-PO 1213.




          ________  _______              _________
          ARIMITSU  ARINAGA              KUNICHIKA  
           - TEI-O 1222 -                 EN-O 1239

ARIMITSU TEI-O: Fine KO-MOKUME. KO-NIE SUGUHA.

ARINAGA TEI-O: Fine KO-MOKUME. NIE SUGUHA.

KUNICHIKA EN-O: Work to SHO-O 1288. KO-MOKUME with MASAME. SUGUHA 
           and KO-CHOJI BA.

________                     ________
NARIKUNI                     KUNIHIRO SHO-GEN 1207 to BUN-O 1260
___|____                     ___|____                           
KUNINAGA NIN-JI 1240         SUYEMUNE EI-NIN 1293               

           _______                   _______
           ARINOBU HO-JI 1247        ARITAKA KEN-CHO 1249 

ARINOBU HO-JI: Well made KO-MOKUME. NIE SUGUHA.

ARITAKA KEN-CHO: MASAME. NIOI HOSO-SUGUHA.

           _________  _______  ________         _______ 
           NOBUMITSU  ARITADA  KAGEHISA         ARIKIYO 
                  - KO-AN 1278 -                EI-NIN 1293

NOBUMITSU KO-AN: To BUN-PO 1317. MOKUME HADA. Fine KO-NIE 
        KO-MIDARE BA with ASHI.
Awataguchi School Tachi - 68.2cm 

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