ShinShinto Katana with Lengthy Mei

laEspadaAncha · 12th March 2010, 07:20 AM

I recently acquired a ShinShinto katana dated to the 1854 as per Rich's nengo inscriptions (thank you Rich for the wealth of information on your web site!). In fact, as per the date inscription, it is dated to the 5th day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Ansei nengo.

Which begs the question... was there an auspicious significance to a swordsmith's first sword of a given year? Of a period?

Which leads me to my next question. The mei inscription is rather lengthy - I am hoping someone (Rich?) might be able to decipher it... given the length of the inscription, I am wondering if the mei contains more information beyond the province and name of the maker.

I apologize for the slight overlap of characters, and have provided a picture of the full tang for reference.

Thank you to any and all who can be of assistance.

12th March 2010, 07:20 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	ShinShinto Katana with Lengthy Mei I recently acquired a ShinShinto katana dated to the 1854 as per Rich's nengo inscriptions (thank you Rich for the wealth of information on your web site!). In fact, as per the date inscription, it is dated to the 5th day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Ansei nengo. Which begs the question... was there an auspicious significance to a swordsmith's first sword of a given year? Of a period? Which leads me to my next question. The mei inscription is rather lengthy - I am hoping someone (Rich?) might be able to decipher it... given the length of the inscription, I am wondering if the mei contains more information beyond the province and name of the maker. I apologize for the slight overlap of characters, and have provided a picture of the full tang for reference. Thank you to any and all who can be of assistance.