Unsigned Ichimonji school long sword (tachi), (Yamatorige / Sanchōmō)

Unsigned Ichimonji school long sword (tachi), (Yamatorige / Sanchōmō)​

National Treasure of Japan (designated 1952)

Made: mid-Kamakura period (mid-13th century)

Dimensions:

 Although this sword is unsigned, it is attributed to the Fukuoka Ichimonji School, which flourished in the Fukuoka area of Osafune. The area that is now Setouchi City was at one time the leading centre of sword production in Japan and host to numerous traditions of swordsmithing. The Sanchōmō is said to be the crowning achievement of one of the most prolific of these traditions.

 The Sanchōmō is famous as a sword of warlord Uesugi Kenshin and his adopted son, Kagekatsu. Kenshin is one of the most famous warlords of the Sengoku period (late 15th c.-16th c.) in Japanese history.

 Most kanji (Japanese characters) have several readings, and many readings are shared by several characters. Because of this ambiguity, the Sanchōmō has been called various things during its long history.

 While ‘Yamatorige’ is the official name used by the Japanese government Agency for Cultural Affairs, the most commonly used name, ‘Sanchōmō’, is potentially more accurate, derived as it is from the ‘Record of the Swords of Uesugi Kagekatsu’. In the document, under the category of ‘Most Treasured Items’, this sword is listed as ‘Santeumau’; ‘teu’ and ‘mau’ were archaic ways of writing ‘chō’ and ‘mō’ respectively.

Cultural properties in Setouchi city​