Kantei
A very long, curved tachi blade on a black background, with the tang on the left.

Ko-Bizen · late Heian

Kanehira (包平)

The Ko-Bizen master who signed the Ōkanehira, held to be one of the finest swords in Japan

Kanehira worked in Bizen at the end of the Heian period, around the Genryaku era (1184-1185), and with Takahira and Sukehira he forms the “three Hira” of the Ko-Bizen. His most celebrated work, the Ōkanehira, is a National Treasure and is held to be one of the finest swords in Japan.

Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase

1184–1185
Active around
89.2 cm
Blade of the Ōkanehira
1951
National Treasure
1967
Acquired by the State
On this page
  1. Quick profile
  2. In short

Quick profile

Name
Kanehira, of the Ko-Bizen; he signs 包平 (Kanehira) and, on two tachi, 備前国包平作 (Bizen no kuni Kanehira saku) HD
Kanji and reading
包平 (Kanehira) HD
Period
Late Heian period, around the Genryaku era (1184-1185); two dictionaries place him in the mid-Heian AT
Province
Bizen (備前, Bizen) AT
School
Ko-Bizen (古備前, Ko-Bizen), the smiths of Bizen before the Ichimonji school; one of the “three Hira” (sanpira) with Takahira and Sukehira AT
Generations
Probably several smiths of the same name: this explains why two tachi bear the long signature and the rest the short one AT
Documented fact and tradition
Documented: the Ōkanehira and other signed tachi. Tradition: the swords of Go-Toba and of Minamoto no Yoritomo attributed to him AT

In short

He is the leading name of the first phase of the Ko-Bizen. No work by Takahira survives and only a single tachi by Sukehira, whereas quite a few by Kanehira are preserved.

The Ōkanehira, signed 備前国包平作 (Bizen no kuni Kanehira saku), has a blade of 89.2 cm. It has been a National Treasure since 1951, is recorded in the Kyōhō meibutsuchō (享保名物帳, Kyōhō meibutsuchō) and was in the Ikeda house of Okayama as the favourite sword of Ikeda Terumasa; today it is in the Tokyo National Museum. With the Dōjigiri Yasutsuna it is called “the two yokozuna of East and West”.

Sections

  1. The “three Hira” of Bizen Life and times The Ko-Bizen, the long signature and the short one, and the swords that tradition attributes to him.
  2. Long, slender and light Work and style Sugata, jihada, hamon, bōshi, nakago and mei: the keys to recognising him.
  3. The Ōkanehira and other tachi Famous works The Ōkanehira, its place in the Kyōhō meibutsuchō and other signed tachi.
  4. The Ōkanehira, on display Videos Three videos of the Ōkanehira.
  5. Bibliography and credits Sources The sources consulted and the image credits.