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GREAT SPEARS OF Our World LEGENDs… SPEARING YOUR WAY. Spears can be more than just a sharp stick. The 3 great-spears of Japan are bound in the Legends of the Martial Ways. Slide-show, pics, legends and manufacture by black-smiths both ancient and modern all point the way forward herein.

 

THE WAY OF THE SPEAR… YOUR WAY.?.

 SPEARS,.. even

 THE GREAT SPEARS,..

have long been a major part of the JAPANESE MARTIAL TRADITIONS AND WAYS.

Our World Legends as well.

 

As a general WEAPONRY TYPE,..(click)

referred to as THE YARI.

 

 

This LONG-POLE or STICK upgrade is also an invaluable asset to your ARTS OF SELF-DEFENCE.

 YARI …=…  槍

 

ARTICLE AND BONUS SLIDE-SHOW.

WEAPON INTEL #6a

 

are the LONG POLE WEAPONS…as well as…SOME SPEAR TYPES OF ANCIENT JAPANs MARTIAL WAYS…CLICK PHOTO FOR SOME BASIC SPEAR AND LEGEND MORE. Photo Credit/Thanks:MatthewAsh

 

 

 3 LEGENDS MORE-

 THE 3 GREAT SPEARS

 OF JAPAN.

 

A SPEAR… THE WAY.

 

Amongst the LEGENDS OF THE WAY OF THE SPEAR, there are several that pointedly stand out. A trio of stand-outs have, over time, earned themselves the title of GREATness.

Known collectively as THE THREE GREAT SPEARS OF JAPAN,..

they have become iconic each+all…

representative and symbols of authority of importance, memorial, remembrance and continued future hope. Such designations honor THE SPEAR‘s history and usage in playing it’s part in the nation building of JAPAN.

 

 

LEGENDS indeed and in fact too.

So with no more ado… alphabetically,

introducing… to you;

 

  • NIHONGO
  • OTEGINE

and

  • TONBOGIRI

 

= THE 3 GREAT SPEARS OF JAPAN.

= TENGA SAN MEI SOU  天下三名槍

 

Named as such in the ‘ KYŌHŌ MEIBUTSU CHŌ ‘ , a listing of famous BLADES compiled by the HON’AMI FAMILY circa 1715-25.

This doc., signed off by 本阿弥光忠 HONAMI MITSUTADA;

was compiled at the behest of the then current TOKUGAWA rulers/government via the SHŌGUN YOSHIMUNE 徳川吉宗.

The 享保名物帳 listing details the BLADES considered to be of important historical significance from the HEIAN to YOSHINO periods of JAPANESE HISTORY (app. 800-1400 A.D.).

 

  A TRIO OF GREATness…

 

A LOVINGLY,..

LEGENDARY CRAFTED TRIO BY

藤原正真

MASTER-SMITH MASAZANE FUJIWARA,..

 

in his early career,

an apprentice of  HEIANJÔ NAGAYOSHI 平安城長吉

and later,.. of the

村正  MURAMASA SCHOOL + TRADITION (click).

 

3 LEGENDS MORE…

and something to… sing about indeed.

 

THE GREAT SPEAR : 日本号

 NIHONGO.

 

The NIHONGO passed from EMPEROR MASATIAKI TO SHOGUN ASHIKAGA YOSHIAKI TO DAIMYO ODA NOBUNAGA TO D. TOYOTOMI HIDEYOSHI TO D. FUKUSHIMA MASANARI… WHO THEN LOST THIS GREAT SPEAR… IN A DRINKING BET… TO MORI TAHEI… AND THENCE ON TO THE FUKUOKA CITY MUSEUM,.. WHERE IT IS STILL BEING DISPLAYED. THIS TALE IS RETOLD IN THE SONG KURODABUSHI. LEGEND. NIHONGO measured some 7-10 ft. dependent on sections used. BLADE LENGTH app.80cm. Photo Credit/Thanks:samurai-spirits

 

THE GREAT SPEAR : 御手杵

 OTEGINE.

 

The OTEGINE… a LEGEND RESTORED. Unfortunately,.. though somewhat pointedly too, there are some which may well be LEGENDS LOST TO TIME. One YUKI HARUTOMO commissioned the original crafting of this SPEAR… which was later passed TO YUKI HIDEYASU. Beyond this, there is lil in the LEGENDS besides the forlorn though not forgotten after-word… THE GREAT SPEAR OTEGINE was lost during the incessant bombing of TOKYO during the event known as ww2. The above is the now restored copy piece; which is publicly on display at the YUKI-KURABIKAN in the city of YUKI. THE GREAT SPEAR OTEGINE is almost 13 ft in length. BLADE SPIKE LENGTH app 140cm. Photo Credit/Thanks:samurai-spirits

 

THE GREAT SPEAR : 蜻蛉切

 TONBOGIRI.

 

The TONBOGIRI completes this TRIO OF GREAT SPEARS created and crafted by the JAPANESE MASTER BLADE-SMITH MASAZANE FUJIWARA. This weapon is currently privately owned it’s LEGENDS and DISPLAY are not for… legendary display. A replica is to be found in the displays of the IEYASU and MIWA BUSHI MUSEUM. THE GREAT SPEAR TONBOGIRI is an elegant and streamlined in nature. The BLADE is comparatively smaller than the previous two which may indicate a more Ceremonial use though its nick-name is just as Martial oriented. Oft referred to and termed as the DRAGON-FLY CUTTING SPEAR, an obvious ref to the bladed keen nature. TONBOGIRI has a BLADE LENGTH app 40cm… whilst the section measurements range indicates a probable full length of some 10-14 ft. This was also at times converted to a hand-spear app 3 ft long,.. as the owner aged. Photo Credit/Thanks:samurai-spirits

 

 

  A LEGENDARY BLADE-SMITH.

 TRAVELS + TRIALS

 BY FIRE INDEED.

 

EXCUSE ME SIR…YOUR SWORD IS ON FIRE.!. MANY FINE WEAPONS + co… HAVE GONE UP IN SMOKE INDEED IT SEEMS. UGH… WE HAVE EVEN… SET THIS TOWN ON FIRE… CLICK PHOTO TO SOOTHE THAT BURNING SENSATION OF KNOWLEDGE ALIGHTING INDEED.

 

The LEGENDS and chronicles make clear that many many WEAPONS of fine manufacture and historical importance have been lost over the ages.

Mostly, BY FIRE.

Some 75+ are noted in the document ” KYOHO… ” alone (click). A large number of these may well have been over 1000 years old as this record only contains olden weaponry documentation.

 

 

gifcredit/thanks:giphy SO…SOME BLACKSMITHING REQUIRED… HEREIN… need 9 UNIQUE WEAPONS… CLICK PHOTO TO UNVEIL UNIQUE WEAPONRY SLIDE-SHOW INDEED.

 

BLADE-SMITH MASAZANE was oft recorded as travelling to and from such as NARA and KYOTO and along the JAP. eastern side from YOSHIDA to ODAWARA and EDO.

He originally appears to be a student of the EISHO MASTER-SMITH HEIANJÔ NAGAYOSHI 平安城長吉 who is also recorded in the LEGENDS + etc as a co-traveller and fellow craftsman.

When in the ISE province they worked together with MASTER-SMITH MURAMASA 村正 .

 

photocredit/thanks:znaj BLADE-WORK BY MURAMASA… SWORD–MAKER… CLICK PHOTO FOR MORE ON such SMITHING LEGENDS INDEED.

 

The SWORD-WORK of the MASTER-SMITHS has also long been appreciated.

A ruler of the near coast-based Castle YOSHIDA,

酒井忠次 SAKAI TADATSUGU 1527-96; who was one of the FOUR TOKUGAWA GUARDIANS 徳川四天王 , certainly agreed.

Crossing the path of a WILD BOAR, the Castellan had occasion to unveil, unleash and ultimately, use his latest useful MASAZANE creation. Indeed… and in fact too.

So these LEGENDS say.

 

STOPPED IN TIME… DONE.

 

The BLADE was indeed worked well and…

worked well on the Boar… as well.

Good work indeed.

 

Done well,?. yes please.!.

 

WILD BOAR… SLICED AND ROASTED INDEED IT SEEMS. MASAZANE STYLE.

 

In a show of appreciation the Castle Chief had the BLADE renamed “ INOKIRI “… = the Boar Cutter of MASAZANE.

This Title was then engraved/inlayed on the BLADE-TANG in commemoration 猪切 .

 

BLADE-WORK BY MASAZANE. THE BOAR-CUTTER SWORD INOKIRI 猪切 PhotoCredit/Thanks:marcussesko

 

SPEARING A CLOSE UP …THE GREAT SPEAR TONBOGIRI BY MASAZANE. Photo Credit/Thanks:marcussesko

 

  REF-NOTE:

For those with an interest…

A modern reprint of THE KYŌHŌ MEIBUTSU CHŌ can be found in TŌKEN MEIBUTSU CHŌ 刀剣名物帳  by TSUJIMOTO TADAO, 1970.

 

Also of note:

 

The reproduction of ancient metal forging and makes, continues to fascinate and interest many. There are some who go even deeper into the methods and ways of this ancient ART.

One such is SWORD-SMITH KUNIMASA of HYUGA city.

He is a Traditional taught SMITH, now working in MIYAZAKI, JAPAN.

 

MASTER-SMITH KUNIMASA… Photo Credit/Thanks:ichiro matsuba kunimasa

 

The pieces he creates  are oft masterful, especially in regards to the looks of the HAMON in which he accentuates with a cloves and cherry blossom type theme and display. This he says,.. (click)…

is a dedication to both old and new… his mentor…

MASTER-SMITH KOBAYASHI and the

LEGENDARY MAKER NAGAYOSHI (mentioned earlier = co-traveller MASAZANE…).

Please feel free to visit his site linked above to view and read more on this matter indeed. LEGEND.

 

SPEAR WAYS…ALL OVER THE WAYS INDEED. LEGEND.

 

  BONUS SLIDE-SHOW : A

SIX+ PACK OF SPEARS.

 

TYPES CURVED,..STRAIGHT,

SHAPED + THRICE GREAT.

 

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Till next…

 

 

gifcredit/thanks:theultralinx BUSHI… IN THE WIND AND WAY OF THE NAGINATA, THE CURVED SPEAR OF LEGEND AND TRADITION.

 

 

Hanzo Hattori. Our World Legends. The Slide-show. His Spear… broken… Herein. PhotoCredit/Thanks:Worldantiques