Japanese Katana Sword, Signed Masahide - Mid-edo (late 18th Century).

JAPAN - Mid-Edo (late 18th century). Samurai Katana. FUSHI - KASHIRA en suite in wrought iron inlaid with copper decorated with stylized plant motifs. TSUKA in wood covered with ray skin, braided with black leather. MENUKIS in chiseled and black patinated copper. TSUBA mokko-gatta in wrought iron and inlaid with gilded copper depicting a lake landscape. SAYA in wood and textured brown lacquer, the kojiri in suite of the kashira. HABAKI in copper covered with a silver leaf hatched with oblique striations. Straight blade, regular hamon, straight and well marked. It is decorated on one side with a horimono depicting Fudo Myo-O, the guardian of the faith, and on the other with gomahashis (ritual chopsticks), both topped with bonjis (Sanskrit characters invoking Buddhist deities). The silk has one hole, stamped with a seal and signed MASAHIDE. Suishinshi Masahide was born in the third year of the Kan-En era (1750) in the Yonezawa domain in Dewa Province (present-day Yamagata / Akita Prefecture). His birth name was Suzuki Sanjiro. At the age of 18, he began learning blacksmithing techniques from a local blacksmith named Yoshizawa Sanjiro, who specialized in the production of agricultural tools in Dewa Koku. Later, Masahide decided to become a blacksmith. In 1771, at the age of 22, he moved to Musashi Koku (present-day Tokyo) to apprentice under Miyagawa Yoshihide, also known as Shitahara Yoshihide. Masahide learned swordsmithing techniques from this master, who belonged to the Shithahara school, one of the most prestigious schools in the region. After completing his apprenticeship, he returned to Dewa Koku. His craftsmanship became widely recognized in the province, and in 1774, Masahide began serving Akimoto Tsunetomo, the head of the domain. It is said that he began using Suishinshi as a title around this time and changed his maker's name to Kawabe Gihachiro Masahide. In 1781, he moved to the city of Edo to live in a house belonging to the Akimoto clan. He was always curious about the various swordsmithing techniques. He began researching how Japanese swords were made in the late Heian-Azuchi Momoyama period (late 11th-late 16th century: KOTO era), particularly those made according to the SOSHU DEN and BIZEN DEN traditions. He often visited the descendants of renowned swordsmiths to learn the secrets of ancient sword forging techniques. One of the most notable episodes was when he visited Yamamura Tsunahiro, a descendant of Masamune, one of the historical figures of Japanese swordsmithing. And he also improved his craftsmanship there. At the time, traditional Japanese swords were less curved and muscular. However, while exploring ancient Japanese swords, he began to feel that something was missing in these blades made in his time. Therefore, he announced Token Fukko Ron, where swordsmiths must return to the old way blades were forged. This theory resonated with many sword makers at the time. Eventually, this theory became commonplace. Sold with the stand, its silk sheath for transport. Dimensions: 99 x 8 x 8 cm. Edge length: 69 cm. Curvature: 1.51 cm.