Kogatana Engraved with Buddah as Child on Lotus Flower

Product Description for Kogatana Engraved with Buddah as Child on Lotus Flower

Maker: Yoshindo Yoshihara (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 85432
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 5.75 in.
Total length: 9.50 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.54 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.08 in.
Item weight: 0.88 oz.
Shipment weight: 2.48 oz.
Blade: Tamahagane (jewel steel), extracted from iron sand using techniques developed over 1500 years ago
Bolster: Shyaku Dou (black copper) habaki (blade collar)
Handle: Ho wood (a close relative of magnolia) handle and saya (sheath)
Sheath: Hand sewn silk presentation wrap
Description: This small tanto or kogatana is the work of master swordsmith Yoshindo Yoshihara. Yoshihara, who is considered to be among Japan's best living swordsmiths creates masterworks that have a living spirit all of their own.
He begins by forging the blade from tamahagane (jewel steel), which is extracted from iron sand using techniques developed over 1500 years ago. A mix of steels, arranged for their imperfections as much as their purity results in his unique blades: “The combination of ‘bad’ and ‘good’ steel and superb forging technique is what gives it blade its personality and beauty, just like a human being. A perfect blade has no personality,” says Yoshihara.
The clay temper on the blade results in a clear, gently undulating notareba hamon. The resulting blade is soft and supportive at the spine, with a very hard blade edge. The mune (spine or blade back) is in the marumune style and is gently rounded. The nakago (tang) has been hand filemarked and is engraved with Mr. Yoshihara's mark.
Yoshihara has used traditional engraving methods to create horimono (decorative carvings on the sides of the blade. The engraving is done with a small hammer and series of very fine chisels. This is followed by burnishing. On the left side, Yoshindo has engraved Buddah as a child standing on a lotus flower, pointing toward the heavens and Earth. According to tradition, the infant Buddah was born already able to walk. Everywhere that his foot touched the ground, a lotus flower would grow and bloom. When he was born, he pointed both toward the sky and the earth, saying: "I am everywhere" (which is a loose translation of the kanji on the right side of the blade). The engraving shows tremendous attention to detail and a dimensionality rarely found. A black copper (Shyaku Dou) habaki (blade collar) protects the blade from scratches caused by the saya (sheath).
As you would expect, exceptional fit and finish throughout.


Availability: Not currently available