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BIZEN		 




FUKUOKA ICHIMONJI NORIMUNE School
________
NORIMUNE ICHIMONJI Founder SHO-GEN 1207
   |________________________________________________ ___________
___|____                                         ___|____       |
SUKEMUNE SHO-GEN 1207                            SUKEYUKI       |
   |_______________ ____________                  See School    |
___|____        ___|____     ___|____                following  |
SUKEMUNE(2)     MORIMUNE     SUKENORI TEI-O 1222                |
KEN-CHO 1249    JO-EI 1232      |   son-in-law: IYENORI TEI-O   |
   _____________________________|___________________            |
__|_____           _____________|____            ___|_____      |
IYEYOSHI           UMANOSUKE SUKEKANE(1)         SUKEYOSHI      |
  | TEM-PUKU 1233               | JO-EI 1232      See School    |
  |______________               |___________         following  |
__|_______    ___|_____      ___|____    ___|____   _________   |
YOSHIMITSU    SHIGENORI      SUKEKANE(2) SANETADA   MASATSUGU   |
KEN-CHO 1249   YOSHIOKA         - KO-AN 1278 -      KO-AN 1278  |
   _____________________ _________ _____________ _______________|
__|_____             ___|____  ___|___       ___|____                
NARIMUNE             TOMONORI  NAOMUNE(2)    YASUNORI SHO-JI 1199    
  | SHO-GEN 1207      - SHO-JI 1199 -        ___|____                
  |                                          SUYENORI TEI-O 1222 
  |_______________ _______________ ______________ 
__|_____       ___|____       ____|____       ___|____ 
SUKEFUSA(1)    NARIMUNE(2)    SUKESHIGE       HISAMUNE RYAKU-NIN  
KEN-PO 1213    KEN-CHO 1249   TEM-PUKU 1233   ___|_____      1238 
See School           ________                 SHIGEHISA 
   following         NORINARI KEN-JI 1275       BUN-EI 1264



NORIMUNE SHO-GEN (f: SADANORI): SHO-GEN GOBAN - 1st month. BIZEN
        TAYU. Founded the ICHIMONJI with Emperor GOTOBA. SAKON
        SHOGEN. Born: 1152, Died: 1214. Narrow bladed, KOSHIZORI
        with deep FUNBARI to KO-KISSAKI TACHI where the upper 
        gently straightens. 
        KO-MOKUME with CHIKEI has JI-NIE and standing UTSURI. 
        Clear KO-NIE KO-MIDARE KO-CHOJI BA of ASHI and YO has 
        KINSUJI in SUNAGASHI. KIJI-MATA "Thigh of a Pheasant" 
        NAKAGO. Two-character MEI. GOBAN secret MEI: KIKU-MON. 
        NORIMUNE follows in OSAFUNE through the SUE-BIZEN.
 Ko-Ichimonji
KO-ICHIMONJI - UBU, Two MEKUGI-ANA



















Kokuho Norimune

KOKUHO NORIMUNE                National Treasure
  NAGASA: 2 SHAKU 5.9 SUN              MOTO-HABA: 8.8 BU
    SORI: 9 BU                         SAKI-HABA: 5.2 BU
  NAKAGO: 6 SUN

  SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE, KOSHIZORI TACHI where the 
  upper subtly straightens along the famous serenity of 
  its long, smooth FUNBARI. An oblique YOKOTE directs 
  the attitude of its small KO-KISSAKI. MIDARE-UTSURI 
  and JI-NIE veil KO-ITAME HADA. The sparkling frost of 
  its KO-NIE and NIOI-FUKASHI KO-MIDARE of KO-CHOJI has 
  enthralled for 800 years. A perfect ellipse arcs the 
  head of its HOSO-SUGU BOSHI, while vibrant figures 
  stand and lean through the foggy mist that walks the 
  crowded and slightly undulating line into the lower. 
  A thinnish, gently KIJI-MOMO NAKAGO is signed above 
  the ANA:
               NORIMUNE 


Norimune - Kokuho

Norimune - Kokuho
Nagasa: 80.1cm
Moto-Haba: 3cm

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, deeply curved Koshizori, Ko-Kissaki Tachi.
Ko-Itame Hada has thin Ji-Nie.
Ko-Nie Fukashi Ko-Midare Ba with Ko-Ashi.
Ko-Maru Boshi.
Suriage Nakago with altered Jiri, remnants of a lower Ana remain. Two Mekugi-ana. Signed in the upper Ji.
     Norimune
 
FUKUOKA NORIMUNE School 

YASUNORI SHO-JI (f: NORIMUNE): To KEN-PO 1213.

SUYENORI TEI-O (t: NORIMUNE, f: YASUNORI): Work to KA-TEI 1235. 
           FUKUOKA JU. Became student of MITSUTADA. See OSAFUNE.
           ITAME HADA. CHOJI BA.

SUKEMUNE SHO-GEN (f: NORIMUNE): SHO-GEN GOBAN - 9th month. SAKON
        SHOGEN. SHURINOSUKE. Considered DAI-ICHIMONJI. FUKUOKA.
        Thin, early KAMAKURA KO-KISSAKI, KOSHIZORI TACHI with 
        strong FUNBARI. Upper gently straightens. Thinly veiled
        JI-NIE covers KO-ITAME HADA with standing MIDARE-UTSURI.
        KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI run in KO-MIDARE of KO-CHOJI BA 
        with ASHI in NIE. Small KAISHO (print-style) MEI. Later
        MEI had "I" form of TSUGU "Thread in two pieces."

SUKEMUNE KEN-CHO (f: SUKEMUNE): Mid-KAMAKURA, wide TACHI SUGATA.
        ICHIMONJI "Showy" CHOJI-MIDARE BA. The KEN-CHO smiths 
        competed for extremes in developing the ICHIMONJI ideal.

MORIMUNE JO-EI (f: SUKEMUNE): FUKUOKA JU. ITAME HADA. KO-CHOJI 
        MIDARE BA.

SUKENORI TEI-O (f: SUKEMUNE): OKI GOBAN - 11th & 12th month. Work
        seen in AN-TEI 1227. SAKON SHOGEN. His infant name, 
        SHINTARO was changed to SHURINOSUKE. A SHO-ICHIMONJI 
        smith under SUKEMUNE, he made the early style narrow, 
        KO-KISSAKI, KOSHIZORI TACHI SUGATA where the upper gently
        straightens. KO-ITAME is veiled in JI-NIE. KO-NIE and 
        NIOI KO-MIDARE of KO-CHOJI BA is exemplified with 
        occasional YO. SAKA-MIDARE BA and clustered CHOJI-MIDARE
        BA. His will be signed two-character MEI or with an ICHI
        above. Also a six-character large. See YOSHIOKA
    MEI: SUKENORI
         ICHI SUKENORI
         BIZEN-no-KUNI SUKENORI TSUKURU

_______________
FUKUOKA IYENORI TEI-O 1222 to YOSHIOKA
  |_____________________ ______________________
__|____             ____|___                ___|___
IYEYASU HO-JI 1247  IYETOSHI KEN-CHO 1249   IYETADA TEI-O 1222
                                            ___|___
                                            IYETADA SHO-GEN 1259

IYENORI TEI-O (f: SUKENORI): Son-in-law of SUKENORI. Root 
        predecessor of IYEZANE and IYETADA. SUGU CHOJI-MIDARE in
        the style of OSAFUNE. See YOSHIOKA ICHIMONJI.
    IYENORI

IYETADA TEI-O: Influence of IYENORI. This name is seen from 
        KO-BIZEN and the first time of ICHIMONJI. Judge according to 
        style. KO-ITAME HADA. KO-CHOJI-MIDARE BA of KO-MIDARE.
    IYETADA
    IYETADA SAKU

IYEYASU HO-JI (f: IYENORI): From HOJI through BUN-EI 1264 time. 
    BIZENnoKUNI IYEYASU

IYETOSHI KEN-CHO (f: IYENORI): KEN-CHO to SHO-KA 1257. 
    IYETOSHI

SUKEKANE(1) JO-EI (f: SUKENORI): UMANOSUKE. Work to KEN-CHO 1249.
        Made mid-KAMAKURA IKUBI KISSAKI SUGATA. ITAME HADA is 
        struck with MIDARE-UTSURI. Mid-KAMAKURA extravagant NIOI
        OBUSA CHOJI MIDARE BA. His large, thin stroked MEI is 
        purposely squared and angular.

SUKEKANE(2) KO-AN (f: UMANOSUKE SUKEKANE): His SUGATA goes from
        the mid-KAMAKURA IKUBI KISSAKI, wide TACHI to the 
        elongated CHU-KISSAKI of the later KAMAKURA. As we head
        for late KAMAKURA, GUNOME invades CHOJI patterns as the
        new trend sweeping all provinces. The ICHIMONJI KAWAZU 
        CHOJI is replaced with GUNOME-CHOJI MIDARE. The attempt
        to make odd sized figures fit uniformly on the line or an
        evenness to the height.
Ichimonji Sukemune
Uesugi Kagekatsu

Uesugi Kagekatsu
Sukemune Sword of Uesugi Kagekatsu

Conquered his brother to take all of Kenshin's domains, consolidated most of Hokurikudo and served Hideyoshi. He was one of the 5 Tairo, entrusted with conservatorship in Hideyori's minority.
A loser at Sekigahara, Kagekatsu submitted and eventually opposed the Toyotomi at Osaka in favor of the Tokugawa.



Sukemune Tachi - Kokuho

Sukemune Tachi - Kokuho
Nagasa: 90cm
Moto-Haba: 2.7cm

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, Koshizori, Chu-Kissaki Tachi.
Ko-Itame Hada with thin Ji-Nie and Utsuri.
Nioi and Ko-Nie Fukashi Juka Choji-Midare Ba with Ashi and Yo.
Strong Tsuyo Nie to Kaen Flame Boshi.
Suriage Haagari Kurijiri Nakago with two Mekugi-ana. Signed in the mid, rusting shaved directly above.
   Sukemune

Sukekane - Kokuho

Sukekane Tachi - Kokuho
Nagasa: 77.6cm
Moto-Haba: 3.2cm

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, Koshizori Funbari, Chu-Kissaki Tachi.
Itame Mokume mix Hada with Ji-Nie, Chikei and Midare-Utsuri.
Nioi and Nie Fukashi Obusa Choji-Midare Ba with Ashi and Yo.
Strong Tsuyo Nie in Monouchi.
Midare-Komi Boshi to Togari Kaeri.
Ubu, slightly Kurijiri Nakago with three Mekugi-ana. Signed in the upper Ji.
       Sukekane 

FUKUOKA NORIMUNE School

SANETADA KO-AN (t: SUKEKANE, f: KANENAGA): KO-CHOJI MIDARE BA.

NARIMUNE SHO-GEN (f: NORIMUNE, br: SUKEMUNE): Resided in the 
        capital at KYO ROKUHARA making swords. Work period runs 
        to SHO-KYU the date and title of GOTOBA's SHOKYU-RAN War.
        This was at the time when his father was engaged with 
        Emperor GOTOBA creating the new ICHIMONJI sword, the 
        Imperial Excalibur for dreams of success against the 
        HOJO, who established their governorship at ROKUHARA 
        following the Emperor's defeat in 1221. Brother, 
        SUKEMUNEs' son takes the same name as uncle, NARIMUNE's
        noted Kyoto signature, MORIMUNE. MORI and NARI, however,
        appear in steel, much the same.
        Narrow TACHI SUGATA. KO-NIE KO-MIDARE of KO-CHOJI BA 
        defined of different sized ASHI. 2nd in KEN-CHO 1249.
     NAOMUNE
     MORIMUNE - KYOTO

SUKESHIGE TEM-PUKU (f: NARIMUNE): SHIGE form: MO "Richly growing"
        grasses. He is considered KO-ICHIMONJI and made the 
        transition from early-KAMAKURA style, narrow upper with 
        small KO-KISSAKI falling through a deeply curved 
        KOSHIZORI, FUNBARI TACHI to the mid-KAMAKURA broadening 
        to the upper. His KO-ITAME HADA has JI-NIE. 
        Note: Early ICHIMONJI are still in the KO-BIZEN style 
        where KO-NIE is expected. KO-ICHIMONJI are transition 
        smiths, however. 
        Where the earlier, KO-ICHIMONJI will show the active 
        low to high HAMON fluctuation with KO-NIE, later we 
        see the YAKIBA expand toward the SHINOGI - leaving all 
        restraint. 
        Early ICHIMONJI: HEIAN-style SUGATA, KO-NIE and 
        fluctuating or undulating HAMON figures. 
        Full development finds the middle ICHIMONJI with 
        mid-KAMAKURA SUGATA, NIOI HAMON and the JI filled with
        extravagant theme-figures. 
        Earlier SUKESHIGE will show KO-NIE with deep NIOI on a
        fluctuating and ASHI defined KO-CHOJI BA with TOGARI. The
        line gently undulates along the HA. SUGATA changes 
        through the transition to KEN-CHO where we find the broad
        upper and ICHIMONJI OBUSA CHOJI patterns. KIJI-MOMO 
        NAKAGO shows a 16 petal KIKU-MON with his two-character
        MEI.
     (KIKU-MON) SUKESHIGE

SUKEFUSA(1) KEN-PO (f: NARIMUNE): See SUKEFUSA School following

HISAMUNE KEN-NIN (f: NARIMUNE): Standing KO-ITAME HADA. KO-NIE
        and NIOI-DEKI KO-MIDARE BA to CHOJI-MIDARE BA.

SHIGEHISA BUN-EI (f: HISAMUNE): Stuck to a KO-BIZEN style with an
        early KAMAKURA feel. KO-KISSAKI, strong FUNBARI TACHI.
        ITAME HADA has standing MIDARE-UTSURI. KO-MIDARE BA with
        ASHI and evenly strung CHOJI-MIDARE BA.


NORINARI KEN-JI: Also in YOSHIOKA. ASAKI-NOTARE BA with ASHI and
        YO.

YOSHIFUSA(2) HO-JI (f: NORIMUNE): KO-CHOJI MIDARE BA.

YOSHIFUSA(3) BUN-EI (f: YOSHIFUSA): Work to KO-AN 1278. FUKUOKA.
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