Kanehira
包平 (Kanehira)
A Bizen smith of the late Heian period, one of the «three Hira» of Ko-Bizen; maker of the Ōkanehira, held one of the finest Japanese swords.
Profile
Kanehira worked around the Genryaku era (1184-1185) and, with Takahira and Sukehira, forms the «three Hira» (sanpira) of Ko-Bizen. Nothing by Takahira survives and only one tachi by Sukehira, while a fair number by Kanehira remain. Tradition credits him with swords of Emperor Go-Toba and of Minamoto no Yoritomo. His most famous work, the Ōkanehira, has a blade of about 89 cm, is wide, with a dense ko-itame, midare-utsuri and a ko-midare temper. That tachi and another in the Mori Memorial Shūsui Museum, in Toyama, bear the long signature «Bizen no kuni Kanehira saku»; the rest read only «Kanehira» in small characters, so several smiths of the same name are assumed.
Monograph
Kanehira (包平)
One of the “three Hira” of the Ko-Bizen and maker of the Ōkanehira: his quick profile and the essentials.
Read the monograph
Notable works
- Ōkanehira: tachi signed «Bizen no kuni Kanehira saku», national treasure, Tokyo National Museum; from the Ikeda house of Okayama.