Niō
二王派 (Niō-ha)
The Suō school of Yamato roots: Kiyotsuna and his successors, from the Kamakura period to the Chōshū domain in Edo times.
Style and characteristics
An itame jigane with masame and sometimes utsuri; a suguha hamon with a tight nioiguchi, often with a slightly veiled look (urumi), and hotsure. It is a Yamato style with some echo of Bizen and Aoe.
History
Kiyotsuna, at the end of the Kamakura period, is the first great name; the character «Kiyo» recurs in the school: Kiyokage, Kiyonori, Kiyosada. The Muromachi work is called Sue-Niō; in the Edo period the school moved to Hagi, in Nagato, and served the Chōshū domain.
Smiths of the school
- Niō Kiyotsuna 清綱
- Niō Kiyozane 二王清実
- Niō Masakiyo 二王方清