NIHONTO.COM:ABOUT SWORDS

{INTRODUCTION} {MAJOR KOTO SCHOOLS} {DIAGRAMS AND TERMINOLOGY} {GLOSSARY}{ARTICLES}

THE GASSAN SCHOOL

GASSAN SADAKAZU

Gassan Sadakazu was born in 1836 in Sugoshi Village in Omi Province. . He was the son of Tsukamoto Shichirobei. When he was a young boy, he was adopted into the family of the famous sword maker Gassan Sadayoshi who's only living heir died prematurely.

Gassan Sadayoshi was the founder of the Osaka Gassan school of sword making. He studied under Suishinshi Masahide until Masahide's death in 1825. At that time he moved to Osaka and started the revived the Gassan school of sword making which had died out in the early Edo period.

Sadakazu started studying the art of sword making at about age 11. He made his first sword at age 14 and by age 20 was recognized as a top quality swordsmith and horimono carver.

In the early 1860's when his teacher passed the age of 60, he assumed the role of Daisaku and made swords in his father's name. About this time he produced a number of swords in the Bizen or Yamato style in addition to the main Ayasugi tradition. His blade structure featured a modest curvature and a pronounced large boshi with only a slightly rounded edge (fukura-kareru), which were also characteristic of Sadayoshi's work.

Work stopped for Sadakazu from 1876 when the wearing of swords was abolished until around 1887 when Japan went to war with China and the demand for swords resumed.

He died in 1918 after a long and very distinguished career as one of the premier sword makers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

GASSAN SADAKATSU

Gassan Sadakatsu was the first born son of Gassan Sadakazu. He was born in Osaka in 1869. His given name was Eitaro and he started his professional training under his father at t very early age.

His skill became close to that of his father, and after his father's death in 1918, he succeeded to the head of the Osaka Gassan school. Sadakatsu trained many other expert sword makers and he dies in 1943 at the age of 74.

Since he worked as an assistant to his father, he had no chance to produce works bearing his own signature until after his father's death in 1918.

In addition to the traditional Ayasugi grain, Sadakatsu reproduced Bizen craftsmanship well. He also worked well in the Soshu style. Most of his works are elegantly slim and have a small point.

Sadakatsu was given the opportunity to make swords for the Imperial Household Ministry. The Imperial Household Ministry commissioned swords for their own use and also for giving as gifts to the high ranking officers of the military.

For this reason we find many of his swords to be made in the traditional Chokuto (straight) form that were carried on formal occasions. One of the blades on display today is of that form.

As stated, Sadakatsu trained many expert smiths. One of the most famous was his third son, Gassan Sadaichi who became one of the Living National Treasures.

{INTRODUCTION} {MAJOR KOTO SCHOOLS} {DIAGRAMS AND TERMINOLOGY} {GLOSSARY}{ARTICLES}