Sengo
千子派 (Sengo-ha)
Muramasa’s school in Kuwana: practical, keen blades, with a hamon identical on both sides.
Style and characteristics
The so-called Muramasa-ba: a hamon of sharp gunome and notare, with very deep valleys, matching on both sides of the blade; an itame jigane with masame; a tang of its own shape, the fish-belly (tanago-bara). Working blades with a keen edge rather than display pieces.
History
Muramasa, whose first dated work is from 1501, was the first of several generations bearing the name; Masazane and other Sengo smiths worked with him. The legend of Muramasa swords hostile to the Tokugawa house is now regarded as a later construction popularised by Edo-period theatre.
Smiths of the school
- Muramasa 村正