毛利元就

Mōri Motonari rose from a minor lord of Aki Province to rule ten provinces across the Chūgoku region, earning renown as one of the Sengoku era's greatest strategists. His surprise attack at the Battle of Itsukushima, which crushed Sue Harukata, is counted among Japan's three greatest ambushes. Famous for the 'Three Arrows' parable, Motonari prized clan unity above all. He maintained close ties with the swordsmiths of Bizen and Bitchū, and the Mōri house accumulated many fine blades from the Bizen Osafune school. Motonari himself was deeply knowledgeable about swords and used the bestowal of famous blades to secure his retainers' loyalty. The Mōri collection is rich in masterpieces bearing the gorgeous chōji-midare hamon characteristic of Bizen-den, reflecting the clan's status as a cultural center for sword arts in western Japan. Motonari's strategic genius extended beyond the battlefield to the political art of diplomacy through swords.