© Copyright Robert Cole 2015 - No copying or distributing









Chikuzen Nobukuni is a long line extending from Koto times. The Sengoku labored all sword schools until the Momoyama of robust unification breathed new life into the arts and styles of all of Japan. The young masters coming from Ten-sho, such as Horikawa Kunihiro, traveling to Kyoto, would create a new world of strong new Momoyama styles. 

The "Shinto" sword-period grew directly from Hideyoshi's Momoyama Unification. 

CHIKUZEN NOBUKUNI YOSHHISADA worked for Kuroda Nagamasa and made the Chikuzen Nobukuni style for Kuroda House. Yoshisada forged his strong, robust Momoyama KYUSHU with the classic Chikuzen Nobukuni tradition to create the Shinto Chikuzen Nobukuni, from which Chikuzen Nobukuni Yoshinao becomes Master in his time.




Chikuzen Nobukuni Koto Roots History:
On instruction of Emperor GoDai-Go, Kusunoki Masashige restored the throne. The Hojo capitol, at Kamakura burned in 1333. 
Seizing the moment, however, his general, Ashikaga Takauji rebelled and was beaten back to the Southern Island of Kyushu where the Hosokawa, Shiba and Otomo joined his cause. (Read Godaigo  History)
The Otomo fought the Imperial support of southern landholders, the Kikuchi and took control of five Kyushu provinces. 
Takauji and his allies won Kyoto and resided there, holding governmental power for the new Ashikaga Shogunate. 
Kyoto has conservative Rai sword school and the Otomo invited Rai and Nobukuni school stylists to their home territories. 
YOSHISADA brings RYOKAI School, and NOBUKUNI school master, SADAMITSU brings NOBUKUNI / RAI styles to KYUSHU.

         ~ RYOKAI School ~                                                    ~NOBUKUNI School ~
_____________________________________ 
YAMASHIRO HISANOBU / Ryokai(2) School 
                        |_______________________________
    __________|_______                                          ___|__________________________
   KYOTO YOSHISADA (1) RYAKU-O 1338        NOBUHISA - name to NOBUKUNI(1) KEM-MU 1334
   ___________|______                                            __|________
  KYOTO YOSHISADA(2) O-AN 1368                   NOBUKUNI(2) EN-BUN 1356    "Three Students"
comes to KYUSHU - "TSUKUSHI RYOKAI"       __|________                                     SADAMUNE
                                                                                  NOBUKUNI(3) SHI-TOKU 1384
                                     _________________________| 
                        ______|____                              ______|__________________ 
                       SADAMITSU KO-O 1389        NOBUMITSU / NOBUKUNI(4) O-EI 1394 
                        to BUNGO and BUZEN
                        becoming NOBUKUNI (later signed) EI-KYO 1429

Kuroda Nagamasa

Son of Kuroda Yoshitaka, Nagamasa was born 1568 and died 1623. Oda Nobunaga gave him to the care of Hideyoshi at age 10.
He served in  the Kyushu Campaign and in Korea. 

He went with Iyeyasu at Sekigahara, 1600. 

He had been Lord in Buzen with 120,000 Koku but following Sekigahara was given Najima in Chikuzen at 520,000 Koku. A major Daimyo, he built the castle at Chikuzen and called it Fukuoka. 

Nagamasa fought under Tokugawa Hidetada (Iyeyasu's son) at Osaka, ending the Toyotomi House and claim.

ITAME-MASAME HADA.  HIRO-SUGU KO-MIDARE BA in NIE with YO.
           O-MIDARE O-CHOJI MIDARE TOGARI BA. May be HORIMONO.

Yoshisada Keicho - Kanei 1624 Founder Chikuzen Nobukuni School                                  Yoshitsugu Keicho-1596
          |________________________ _____________________ __________________________ _________________________
_____|____                                ____|___                             ____|___                                    _____|___                                    ____|___
Yoshisada(2) Kanbun 1661      Yoshisuke Tenwa 1681      Yoshitsugu Kanbun 1661          Yoshimasa(1) Kanei 1624           Yoshihiro(1) Kanei 1624
  ________                                 ____|___                             ____|___                                    _____|___                                    ____|___                                 _______
Yoshikatsu Enpo 1673             Yoshisada Meiwa 1764       Yoshikane Enpo 1673               Yoshimasa(2) Kanbun 1661       Yoshihiro(2) Genroku 1688   Yoshihiro
                        __________ ____________________________|                                             ____|_______________________     ________
               ____|____    ____|____        ____________________|____                                  Yoshimasa(3) same as Yoshimune    Shigesada               
              Yoshikane     Yoshitsugu     Tokugawa AOI leaf Shigekane Genroku 1688                                   ~ Gen-Roku 1688 ~
                                                                                   _________|              to Kyoho 1716 
                                                                          ____|____   ____|____                        _______
                                                                          Kanetsugu  Shigehisa Kyoho 1716   Yasutoshi Kyoho 1716

ShinShinto

                                              Yoshimasa                                                                                               Mitsumasa Tenmei 1781
____|___     _____|___         _____|___                             _____|___                                      ____________|___
Yoshinao    Yoshimitsu        Yoshitsugu Kansei 1789      Yoshitoshi Bunka 1804                Reisentsu Yoshinao Kyowa 1801
         Kansei 1789                                                              _____|___
                                                                                          Yoshitoshi Bunkyu 1861

Yoshikazu Bun-Sei 1818                                                         Yoshimasa TemPo 1830
____|____                                                                                  ____|___
Yoshikazu Bun-Kyu 1861                                                        Yoshihide Ko-Ka 1844
 ________    ________     _______    ________                        ____|___
Yoshitsugu   Yoshiharu   Yoshikiyo  Shigenori                        Yoshinao Ka-ei 1848
                ~ Kei-o 1865 ~
Yoshisada(1) Keicho 1596
 Founding smith of the Chikuzen Nobukuni. 

Father of Yoshimasa and Yoshitsugu. 
First signed his normal name: Yoshisada (Sada character: Tei "deciding").  Personal name: Sukezaemon. 

Yoshisada went into the service of Lord Kuroda Nagamasa in Kei-cho 7, 1602. Yoshisada died Kan-ei 17 (1640), 9th month.



Chikuzen Nobukuni Yoshisada
Founder of  Shinto Chikuzen Nobukuni
NAGASA: 69cm
NAKAGO: 18.5cm

Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune with
full length BO-HI that resolves in MARUDOME.
Bright and well knit ITAME HADA.

CHU-SUGU KO-MIDARE BA of fine KO-NIE in a defined NIOI-DEKI.

BOSHI is a deep SAAGARI KO-MARU.

UBU NAKAGO falls to KURIJIRI, and signed:

    NOBUKUNI MINAMOTO YOSHISADA





















Nobukuni Yoshisada
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 5 Sun (75.75cm)
Moto-Haba: 9 Bu 8 Rin (2.97cm)
Nakago: 6 Sun 8 Bu (20.6cm)
Miya Yoshihisa Family Possession
 Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, deeply curved with Chu-Kissaki.
Koshi Futatsu Hi, both sides.
There is Kirikomi battle Scar on the Mune, at the KoshiHi.
Defined Ko-Itame Hada has Shirake surface.
High-reaching Gunome-Mdare with Tobi-Yaki. Hamon widens in the upper becoming very full in the Kissaki. Sunagashi and Kinsuji streams with the grain. 
Chu-width Midare-Komi Boshi has Maru has Hakikake and medium Kaeri.
Ubu Kurijiri Nakago has three Mekugi-ana.
Chikuzun Ju Minamoto Nobukuni
Kanji Kanei Kunen Hachi Gatsu Kichi Nichi




Yoshimasa(1) Kanei 1624Son of the founder, Chikuzen Nobukuni Yoshisada.
           Named after their Lord Kuroda Nagamasa.

Yoshikatsu Enpo: Work from Enpo to Genroku 12. Gunome-Midare Ba.
    Chikushu Ju Minamoto Nobukuni Yoshikatsu   
    Chikuzen Ju Minamoto Nobukuni Yoshikatsu

Yasutoshi Kyoho to Horeki: Lived in Hatakata Motoki Cho. Died Horeki Gannen 3rd Month, 18th Day, 1751.
Chikushu Ju Nobukuni Tsuneshiro Yasutoshi
Chikushu Ju Nobukuni Tsuneshiro Yasutoshi Matagonsaburo















Chikuzen Nobukuni Yoshimasa

NAGASA: 21 3/16" (38.5cm)
Moto-haba: 1 3/16" (3cm) 
NAKAGO: 4 5/8" (11.8cm)

Shobu-tsukuri and Hira-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune
Itame with O-Hada mixed. Masame along the Ha.

Midare of O-Midare Ba where grouped Gunome gather in three, two, then one to repeat along the length. The hamon shows a Niju doubling through the Habuchi. The whole of bright KO-NIE and NIOI with Sunagashi rolling between figures.

BOSHI is a swirling Kaen Flames with Hakikake in Ko-Nie.

UBU NAKAGO is Haagari Kurijiri with one Mekugi-ana.
Nobukuni Yoshimasa

 








































Nobukuni Yoshimasa Jumonji Yari
Nagasa: 6 Sun 5 Bu (19.5cm)

Itame Hada has Ji-Nie.
Chu-Suguha of Nie.
Hakikake Ko-Maru Boshi.
Minamoto Nobukuni Yoshimasa


Dr Compton Collection


Chikushu Minamoto Nobukuni Yasutoshi





































Yoshikatsu
Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune Kanbun-zori Wakizashi
Tight and defined Ko-Mokume Hada.
Asaki-Notare Hiro-Suguha in clear and bright Nioi and Ko-Nie which gradually widens to the upper. There is Choji-Midare with Nioi-Kuzure in the Habuchi at the Moto.
Full Boshi with Ko-Maru and short Kaeri.
Ubu Kurijiri Nakago with one Mekugi-ana.

Chikuzen Ju Minamoto Nobukuni Yoshikatsu








































Shigekane
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 3 Sun 2 Bu 5 Rin (70.45cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun (3.03cm)
Nakago: 7 Sun 2 Bu (21.82cm)
Maruo Mitsutoshi Family Possession
Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, Chu-Kissaki.
Running Hada is Ko-Masame with Ji-Nie and Chikei.
Rippling and high Notare holds Gunome Choji Midare Ba with Ashi in Nioi-Fukashi and Ko-Nie. Tobi-Yaki and Kinsuji stand while Sunagashi brushes.
Asaki-Notare Komi Boshi has hakikake and a long fall..
Ubu Kengyo Nakago with one Mekugi-ana.

  Chikushu Ju Minamoto Nobukuni Shigekane









































Masakane
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 2 Sun 3 Bu (67.57cm)
Moto-Haba: 1 Sun 4 Rin (3.15cm)
Nakago: 6 Sun 7 Bu (20.45cm)
Kuno Shigetatsu Family Possession
Strong Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-Mune with Chu-Kissaki.
Bo-Hi ni Subi. Maru-dome.
Strong and running Mokume Hada has Chikei.
Gunome-Midare in a generally Chu-width line, has Ashi and Yo and running Sunagashi with Kinsuji. In Nioi-Fukashi and Ko-Nie.
Midare-Komi Boshi has Ko-Maru and Hakikake.
Ubu Kengyo Nakago has two Mekugi-ana.

(Aoi Leaf Mon) Chikushu Nobukuni Minamoto Masakane