Gassan
月山派 (Gassan-ha)
The school of Mount Gassan: the wavy ayasugi-hada, from medieval Dewa to the Ōsaka house that keeps it alive today.
Style and characteristics
Its mark is ayasugi-hada, a regular, wavy grain in the steel like parallel waves, which the school forges on purpose. The hamon is usually a nie suguha or a sober ko-midare.
History
The Gassan smiths worked in Dewa from the Kamakura period, among the ascetics of the Dewa Sanzan mountains, and their ayasugi-hada became the school’s mark. In the Bakumatsu Gassan Sadayoshi settled in Ōsaka and renewed the house; his son, Gassan Sadakazu, was an artist to the imperial household. The family is still active: Gassan Sadakazu II was a Living National Treasure, and the line continues with Gassan Sadatoshi.
Smiths of the school
- Gassan Sadakatsu 月山貞勝
- Gassan Sadakazu 月山貞一
- Gassan Sadanobu 月山貞伸
- Gassan Sadatoshi 月山貞利
- Tanaka Sadatoyo 田中貞豊