The are a group of five

Japanese swords A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1,000 BC – 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794–1185) to the ...

. Three are

National Treasures of Japan Some of the National Treasures of Japan A is " Tangible Cultural Properties designated by law in modern Japan as having extremely high value." Specifically, it refers to buildings, arts, and crafts designated as especially valuable from ...

, one an Imperial Property, and one a holy relic of

Nichiren Buddhism Nichiren Buddhism (), also known as ''Hokkeshū'' (, meaning ''Lotus Sect''), is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222–1282) and is one of the Kamakura period school ...

. Among the five, some regard Dōjigiri as "the

yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

of all Japanese swords" along with Ōkanehira ( :ja:大包平).Sato, 1990. pp. 116–117.

Origin

As of 2017, the term is widely-recognized among Japanese sword connoisseurs. For example, the national institute uses the word in an explanation for Mikazuki. Although some researchers claim the term dates back to the

Muromachi period The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...

(1333–1573), its origin is unknown. Suiken Fukunaga cites a book written in the fifth year of

Genroku was a after Jōkyō and before Hōei. The Genroku period spanned the years from September 1688 to March 1704. The reigning emperor was .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). ''Annales des empereurs du japon'', p. 415. The period was known for its peace and ...

(1692–1693),Fukunaga, 1993. vol. 3, p. 302 and vol. 5, p. 379. so the term is traceable back to at least the late 17th century if the citation is to be believed. Kanzan Sato commented, in terms of pure quality from the viewpoint of modern sword connoisseurs, although they are undoubtedly five of the greatest swords, it is doubtful whether they are ''the'' five greatest swords.Sato, 1990. pp. 138–140. He guessed the criteria of this selection include the values of legends associated to these famous swords.

List

Sometimes the selection differs from the following list. For instance, a list by Kanzan Sato includes , an Imperial Property of Japan, instead of Onimaru Sato, 1990. pp. 127–129. (although in other parts of the same book Sato contradicts himself and uses the same list as the following ). All five swords in this list are included in the ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'', a sword catalogue commissioned by

Tokugawa Yoshimune was the eighth ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, ruling from 1716 until his abdication in 1745. He was the son of Tokugawa Mitsusada, the grandson of Tokugawa Yorinobu, and the great-grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Yoshimune is know ...

, the eighth

shogun , officially , was the title of the military aristocracy, rulers of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor of Japan, Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, exc ...

of the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

, and compiled by the Hon'ami clan, who were renowned authorities in sword appraisal. Swords listed in the ''Kyōhō Meibutsuchō'' are traditionally given the honorary title , which is prefixed to their names. Named Japanese swords are typically referred to in combination with the name of their swordsmith. For example, the Dōjigiri, one of the Tenka-Goken included in the catalogue, is referred to as . File:Tachi Sword - Dojikiri Yasutsuna.jpg, Dojikiri Yasutsuna File:Oni-mar.jpg, Onimaru Kunitsuna File:三日月宗近, Tachi Mikazuki Munechika.jpg, Mikazuki Munechika

Notes

References

* Sato, Kanzan (1990) (in Japanese) . Akita Shoten. . * Fukunaga, Suiken (1993) (in Japanese) . Yūzankaku. . {{Notable swords Ashikaga shōguns Individual Japanese swords Mythological swords National Treasures of Japan Nichiren Buddhism Regalia

Origin

List

See also

Notes

References