Skillfully Tempered Sharp Blades
(Sayetate no uchi kitai no wazamono,
鏗鏘手練鍛の名刄)
Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei
1847-1848
This series of prints recognizes the contributions of famous sword smiths, as well as the warriors who used their swords. Even today, great artisans are officially honored in Japan as ‘living national treasures’. The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.
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Subject:
Awa no Jurobei (阿波の十郎兵衛) dragging his terrified daughter Sword smith:
Rai Kunitsugu Robinson:
S51.1 |
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Subject:
Fukuoka Mitsugi Sword smith:
Aoi Shimosaka Yasutsugu Robinson:
S51.2 |
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Subject: Kamiya Jihei about to perform seppuku while a dog carries off the
severed head of his beloved Koharu Sword smith:
? Robinson:
S51.3 NOTE: The
term ‘hara-kiri’, although more
common in English than ‘seppuku’,
is considered in Japan to be a vulgar and disrespectful description of an
honorable action. |
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Subject: Katsuma Gengobei (勝間源言兵衛) holding the severed head of the bath-house girl (yuna) Kikuno (also known as Sakuraya Sword smith:
Morimitsu of Bizen Robinson:
S51.4 |
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Subject: Ôkumo Hikoroku Tessan Sword smith:
Gorô Masamune of Sagami Robinson:
S51.5 |
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Subject:
Sano Jirozaemon (佐野冶郎左衛門) Sword smith:
“Two-character” Kuniyuki Robinson:
S51.6 |
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Subject:
Sasaki Ganryű standing besides a stone statue of Jizô in the rain Sword smith:
Shinsoku Robinson:
S51.7 |
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Subject: Shirai Gompachi crouching to
wash his hands while two dogs bark at him from behind Sword smith:
Sengo Muramasa of Ise Robinson:
S51.8 |
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Subject: Shundô Jiroyemon with a grey
face from impending death plunges sword into heap of straw Sword smith:
Shimosaka Yasutsugu Robinson:
S51.9 |
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Subject: Yodoya Shinshichi with
bloodstained scroll Sword smith:
“Two-character” Kunitoshi Robinson:
S51.10 |
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
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