Kantei
A short wakizashi blade on a black cloth, with the tang on the left; above, a label with numbers, and below, the light wooden scabbard.

Hizen · Ogi · first half of Edo

Harima Daijō Tadakuni (播磨大掾忠国)

The first Tadakuni of Hizen, swordsmith of the Ogi domain in the great family of Tadayoshi: what is known of him and what is not

Harima Daijō Tadakuni (播磨大掾忠国) is the first of a line of swordsmiths of Hizen, on Kyūshū, who signed 肥前住播磨大掾藤原忠国 (Hizen jū Harima Daijō Fujiwara Tadakuni). The Japanese Sword Index counts the Tadakuni among the branches of the first Tadayoshi’s family that worked around Saga for the Nabeshima, and the Sanada Museum in Nagano presents the first as a swordsmith in the service of the Ogi domain. The Yamada cutting list places him among the wazamono.

Nagoya City Museum

At least 3
Generations
Wazamono (4th of 4)
Cutting rank
West maegashira
1933 ranking
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Harima Daijō Tadakuni, the first of the name; signature 肥前住播磨大掾藤原忠国 (Hizen jū Harima Daijō Fujiwara Tadakuni) or 播磨大掾藤原忠国 (Harima Daijō Fujiwara Tadakuni) AT
Kanji and reading
播磨大掾忠国 (Harima Daijō Tadakuni); also 忠國 (Tadakuni), with the old form of the second character HD
Period
First half of the Edo period; shintō (新刀, shintō) AT
Province
Hizen (肥前, Hizen): Ogi (小城, Ogi), near Saga AT
School
Hizen, that of the family of Tadayoshi AT
Master
Not recorded in any of the sources consulted PC
Title
Harima Daijō (播磨大掾, Harima Daijō), one of the honorary titles that were engraved in the signature (受領銘, zuryō-mei) HD
Generations
At least three; the third also signed Harima Daijō, according to the dictionary of names of 芳賀矢一 (Haga Yaichi) AT
Rank
業物 (wazamono), the 4th of the 4 grades of the 懐宝剣尺 (Kaihō Kenjaku); west maegashira in Tomita Kiyama’s ranking (1933, published in 1935) AT
What is documented
A wakizashi at the Nagoya City Museum and a spear at the Sanada Museum in Nagano, signed Harima Daijō HD
The tradition
His birth, his death, his master and the year of his title are not recorded in any of the sources consulted PC

In short

The dictionary of names of 芳賀矢一 (Haga Yaichi) gives him the surname 橋本 (Hashimoto), the title of Harima Daijō and the monastic name 播磨入道休鉄 (Harima Nyūdō Kyūtetsu), at Ogi, in Hizen. Sesko reproduces a wakizashi of his of 1636. Of his style, the sources consulted say nothing.

Sections

  1. Ogi and the Nabeshima Life and times His family, his monastic name, his dates and a namesake in Kyoto.
  2. Signature and shape Work and style What can be seen on his blades in the museums, and how the generations are confused.
  3. Wazamono · museums Famous works His blades in museums, the Yamada cutting list and an NBTHK competition.
  4. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted and the image credit.