大典太光世
Ōdenta Mitsuyo
Auch bekannt als: Great Denta
Beschreibung
One of the Five Greatest Swords, Ōdenta Mitsuyo is distinguished by its imposing proportions and powerful jigane. Forged by Tenta Mitsuyo of Yamato Province, it displays a broad, thickly constructed tachi form of commanding presence. The name 'Ōdenta' adds 'Ō' (great) to the smith's common name 'Tenta.' Treasured by the Ashikaga shōguns, it passed through Toyotomi Hideyoshi before being bestowed upon Maeda Toshiie. The Maeda clan of Kaga guarded it as a family heirloom, believing it had the spiritual power to ward off illness. It is now held by the Maeda Ikutokukai Foundation and deposited at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art.
Legenden & Geschichten
Since ancient times, Ōdenta Mitsuyo has been believed to possess the spiritual power to dispel illness. After it came into the Maeda family's possession, many stories tell of placing it at the bedside of sick family members to effect a cure. Most notably, when the daughter of third-generation lord Maeda Toshitsune fell gravely ill, the sword was placed at her bedside and she recovered. The Maeda clan — lords of the million-koku domain of Kaga — never parted with this blade precisely because of their faith in its miraculous healing power. Among the Five Greatest Swords, Ōdenta is most closely associated with spiritual protection.