Other Famous SwordsKatana / TantōNational Treasures and Important Cultural Properties (multiple works)

正宗

Masamune

Aussi connu sous le nom de: Sōshū Masamune — Master of Masters

Forgeron

Okazaki Masamune (Gorō Nyūdō Masamune)

Époque

Late Kamakura – early Nanbokuchō period (late 13th – early 14th century)

Type

Katana / Tantō

Classement

National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties (multiple works)

Lieu de conservation

Various museums and shrines (Mitsui Memorial Museum, Atsuta Shrine, etc.)

Description

Masamune — widely regarded as the greatest swordsmith in Japanese history — perfected the Sōshū tradition in the late Kamakura period. His flamboyant nie-deki hamon and the mysterious chikei and kinsuji that weave through his jigane represent an artistic achievement without peer. He stands at the apex of the 'Three Greatest Smiths' (Masamune, Yoshihiro, Yoshimitsu) and trained many master craftsmen known as the 'Ten Disciples of Masamune.' Many of his works are unsigned — said to be because his style was so overwhelmingly distinctive that no signature was needed. The 'Meibutsu Masamune' blades catalogued in the Edo-era Kyōhō Meibutsuchō have been cherished as supreme masterworks, and his name remains synonymous with the Japanese sword worldwide.

Légendes et récits

The famous legend of Masamune versus Muramasa tells of a cutting test in a stream. Muramasa's blade cut everything that touched it — leaves, fish, even the air itself. But leaves drifted around Masamune's blade, and fish swam away unharmed. Though Muramasa's blade seemed superior, a watching monk declared: 'Masamune's blade is a sword of benevolence — it does not cut that which is innocent.' The tale is apocryphal, as the two smiths lived in different eras, but it perfectly captures how Masamune's art transcends mere weaponry to embody spiritual refinement. In Japanese, 'Masamune' has become a byword for supreme excellence in any field.