粟田口久国

Awataguchi Hisakuni

Description

## Eldest of the Awataguchi Six Brothers — Awataguchi Hisakuni Awataguchi Hisakuni was a swordsmith of the Awataguchi school active in Kyoto's Awataguchi district during the early Kamakura period, traditionally regarded as the eldest of the celebrated "Awataguchi Six Brothers" — Hisakuni, Kunitomo, Arikuni, Kuniyasu, Yoshimitsu, and Kuniyoshi. The Awataguchi school, centered on the eastern hills of Kyoto from the late Heian through the Kamakura era, was an aristocratic lineage whose refined style earned patronage from the imperial court, noble families, and the warrior class alike. Among the six brothers, Hisakuni is especially renowned for his tachi, combining dignified refinement with strength. The jigane exhibits the densely packed, near-nashiji ko-itame hada characteristic of the Awataguchi school, while the hamon presents a graceful suguha with occasional ko-midare. The nie is uniform and fine, with consistently high technique evident from edge to tang. ## Technical Qualities of the Awataguchi School Across the Awataguchi school, the fineness of jigane and the quality of nie are defining characteristics. Hisakuni's works demonstrate these traits fully, proving a highly accomplished level of swordsmithing existed at Awataguchi already in the early Kamakura period. Fine sunagashi and kinsuji within the blade interior add depth to the hamon. ## The Role of the Eldest Brother Hisakuni's role as eldest extended beyond leaving outstanding works as an individual swordsmith to defining the technical direction and aesthetic standards of the Awataguchi school. The norms Hisakuni established became the soil from which Yoshimitsu — later counted among the Three Greatest Smiths — emerged. The great lineage of the Awataguchi school begins with Hisakuni. ## DATEKATANA and Awataguchi Hisakuni DATEKATANA presents Hisakuni as the great forerunner of the Awataguchi lineage connected to Yoshimitsu, and as a swordsmith who embodies the origins of Yamashiro beauty. Multiple works survive as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, and Hisakuni occupies an unshakeable place in sword history as the foremost representative of early Kamakura Yamashiro-den.

Famous Works

• 太刀（国宝・東京国立博物館）
• 太刀（重要文化財・複数）