Bishū ju Masahiro Tachi
備州住正広 太刀
Item TK019
Period: Nanbokucho Period 1384
Mei (Signature): 備州住正広作 Bishū ju Masahiro saku
至徳元 (1384)Designation: Designated on Showa 55 (1980)
27th JUYO TOKENNakago - Ubu Zaimei
Nagasa - 79.6cm
Sori: - 2.6cm
Motohaba - 2.9cm
Sakihaba - 1.9cm
Kissaki - 2.9cm
Motokasane - 0.7cm
Nakago - 22.8cm
PRICE ON INQUIRY
Masahiro of the Ko-Mihara School
We are pleased to present an exceptionally rare offering: a Ko Mihara Ubu signed tachi from the Nanbokuchō period.
It is extremely rare to encounter an ubu (unshortened) signed tachi of this period, as the vast majority of Nanbokuchō blades were shortened (suriage) over the centuries. To have one survive in its original ubu form, with signature intact, is extraordinary.
The Mihara school of Bingo province produced blades noted for their refined workmanship, elegant shapes, and a harmonious balance between strength and beauty. This tachi is a prime example, embodying the dignified sugata of the Nanbokuchō era while preserving its signature and full length.
This sword differs from the typical Yamato-den style commonly seen in Ko-Mihara works, instead showing a vigorous nie-based construction. It is a powerful tachi featuring tobiyaki, mune-yaki, and yubashiri, with ji-hada showing ji-nie, ji-utsuri, and patches of nie activity. As a signed work by Mihara Masahiro, it holds exceptionally high artistic and historical value, and it remains in flawless condition — free of any damage or defects.
Such swords are not only highly desirable to collectors but also represent an invaluable piece of samurai history. Opportunities to acquire an ubu signed Nanbokuchō tachi, especially from a school as important as Ko Mihara, are exceptionally rare.
Comes with Shirasaya made by the late Mukansa Sayashi - Maeda Kousaku. Single Gold Foil Habaki. Period Handachi Koshirae with Brown Ishime lacquered saya.
The below information is a translation of the original Juyo Token Zufu for this blade.
Sugata
The blade has a wide mihaba, with koshizori (curvature near the base), a small funbari, extended chū-kissaki, and an overall powerful Nanbokuchō style.
Jigane
The kitae is itame mixed with masame, producing ji-nie. The jigane is clear and tight, with chikei visible.
Hamon
A straight suguha-chō with ko-nie well attached, hotsure and yubashiri appearing. Overall the hamon has a strong appearance, becoming like a double-layered pattern (nijūba) and triple-layered pattern (sanjūba). Tobiyaki is also seen.
The Boshi is straight, turning back in a small circle (ko-maru), short kaeri
Nakago
Ubu (unaltered), kurijiri. One mekugi-ana. Yasurime is katte-sagari. Mei on the omote: "Bishū ju Masahiro saku" (備州住正広作). Ura bears an inscription dated Shitoku gannen (1384).
Explanation
This is a long tachi by Masahiro of the Ko-Mihara school, bearing a date inscription of Shitoku gannen (1384). The Ko-Mihara group was a branch of the Mihara school that flourished in Mihara of Bingo Province from the late Kamakura to the Nanbokuchō period. Masahiro and Masaiye are regarded as representative smiths of this group.
Because Bingo Province had close ties with the many temples of the Yamato region, the works of this school show a strong Yamato-den influence, with many examples exhibiting a straight suguha temper.
This particular tachi is of long proportion and features a suguha temper, yet the upper portion shows strong yubashiri, forming patterns that resemble nijūba (double temper lines) and sanjūba (triple temper lines). Within the body of his works, this example demonstrates a powerful nie-deki style with abundant crystalline activity in both the jihada and hamon.
The Shitoku gannen inscription provides valuable reference material for the study of this smith, and the only earlier known dated example is one bearing an inscription of Shinji 3rd year (1374).
Touken Takaradō Supplementary Explanation
Bizen, Bitchū, and Bingo were originally parts of a single province within the Sanyō region, which was later divided into three separate territories. Because of this historical division, they have collectively been referred to since ancient times as “Bishū” (the Three Provinces).
