AOE青江

BaudenelleMicha 2010

The old Kibi region is situated in today’s Okayama Perfecture.The old Kibi region is situated in today’s Okayama Perfecture.The Yoshii-, the Asahi- and the Takahashi river are the The Yoshii-, the Asahi- and the Takahashi river are the

mainreason of the location. These rivers carried rich sand mainreason of the location. These rivers carried rich sand iron.iron.

Around these 3 rivers one finds the Bizen and the Around these 3 rivers one finds the Bizen and the BitchuAoeSchools in the Heian period.BitchuAoeSchools in the Heian period.

Yoshii Yoshii Osafune School Osafune SchoolAsahi Asahi Fukuoka Ichimonji School Fukuoka Ichimonji SchoolTakahashi Takahashi Aoe School Aoe School

Geographical considerations

Historical considerationsHistorical considerationsThe Aoe started in the late Heian period. Some sources name The Aoe started in the late Heian period. Some sources name Yasutsugu Yasutsugu

as the founderas the founder. . There are no swords left by Yasutsugu, so his son There are no swords left by Yasutsugu, so his son Moritsugu is mostly considered the founder.Moritsugu is mostly considered the founder.

Unlike theBizen School, which wasprosperous until the end of the Unlike theBizen School, which wasprosperous until the end of the Muromachi period, the Aoe School ended at the late Nambokucho or Muromachi period, the Aoe School ended at the late Nambokucho or early Muromachi period (depends on the source).early Muromachi period (depends on the source).

Unlike the Bizen School, which created sub-schools, the Aoe School did Unlike the Bizen School, which created sub-schools, the Aoe School did not. Among the Bizen sub-Schools are the Ichimonji, Osafune, and not. Among the Bizen sub-Schools are the Ichimonji, Osafune, and Hatakeda among others.Hatakeda among others.The Aoe School wasvery conservative and The Aoe School wasvery conservative and did not form into cliques. The names of smiths were handed down did not form into cliques. The names of smiths were handed down for generations (mostly including the ‘tsugu’-kanji) and the for generations (mostly including the ‘tsugu’-kanji) and the workmanship did not change a lot.workmanship did not change a lot.

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The workmanship of the Aoe School is very high quality and has been The workmanship of the Aoe School is very high quality and has been admired since its start. Among the 12 smiths invited to work with admired since its start. Among the 12 smiths invited to work with Emperor Gotoba (Goban Kaji) 3 werefromthe Bitchu Aoe School.Emperor Gotoba (Goban Kaji) 3 werefromthe Bitchu Aoe School.

Sadatsugu, Tsunetsugu and Tsuguie, the three sons ofMunetsugu, all Sadatsugu, Tsunetsugu and Tsuguie, the three sons ofMunetsugu, all belonged to the Ko-Aoe School.belonged to the Ko-Aoe School.

At the beginning there’s little difference between the ko-Bizen School At the beginning there’s little difference between the ko-Bizen School and the Aoe School. and the Aoe School.

One can distinguish 3 periods of manufacture:One can distinguish 3 periods of manufacture: Ko-AOE (earlyperiod)Ko-AOE (earlyperiod) Chu-AOE (midperiod)Chu-AOE (midperiod) Sue-AOE (lateperiod)Sue-AOE (lateperiod)There are many disagreements concerning these divisions. Regardless There are many disagreements concerning these divisions. Regardless

which theory one follows, the quality of Aoe blades is consistently which theory one follows, the quality of Aoe blades is consistently good. Most difficulty arises from the fact the Aoe School is very good. Most difficulty arises from the fact the Aoe School is very conservative and so marking differences is not easy.conservative and so marking differences is not easy.

Ko-AOE

Late Heian – mid-Kamakura

Ko– AOE SchoolSUGATA

Standard length for that time Fine form with relatively wide kasane High shinogiKoshi-soriFumbariKo-kissaki

Ko–AOE SchoolJIHADA

Ko-itame with ko-mokume, Ji-nie with fine chikeiSumiganeJifu utsuriO-hada (less in later period)

CHIRIMEN HADA

Chirimenhada

Ko– AOE SchoolHAMON

Midare on suguha basisashi and yokumo-no-iwatomuchniekinsuji, sunagashiha-hada is visible

Ko– AOE SchoolBOSHI

Suguha, midarePointed maruKaeri

Occasionally Ichimonji boshi or yakizume

Ichimonjiboshi

Ko– AOE SchoolNAKAGO

Little sori

Mostly o-sujikai yasurime sometimes kiri

mei - 2 kanji

katana mei (specific for Aoe School)

Chu-AOE

Mid-Kamakura – early Nambokucho

Chu– AOE SchoolSUGATA

Tachi, tanto, ko-wakizashi, nagamaki andnaginata

Broad sugata High shinogi Less koshi-sori, more torii-sori Fumbari disappears Elongated kissaki (but not yet o-kissaki)

Chu–AOE SchoolJIHADA

more variationsKo-itame with ko-mokume, Ji-nie with fine chikeiLess sumigane Jifu and shirake utsuri are less frequent O-hada is very rare

CHIRIMEN HADA

Chu– AOE School

HAMON

Midare on suguha basisSaka-ashi and saka-chojiKinsuji, sunagashiKo-nieHa-hada is still visible

Chu– AOE SchoolBOSHI

Suguha, midarePointedmaruKaeri

In this period the Aoe-boshi develops

AOE boshi

Sue-AOE

Mid-Nambokucho – early Muromachi

Sue– AOE SchoolSUGATA

O-tachi, tanto ko-wakizashi, nagamaki andnaginata

Broadform High shinogiTorii-soriO-kissaki

Sue–AOE SchoolJIHADA

Ko-itame with ko-mokume, Sumigane is getting scarce Sometimes little shirake utsuri Harder jigane

CHIRIMEN HADA

Sue– AOE SchoolHAMON

Midare on suguha basisSaka-chojiKinsuji, sunagashiNioi-guchi became tighter and brighter Nioi base, this is very specific for Sue-Aoe, other Schools

made more Nie (Soshu influence) except for the Aoe School

Sue– AOE SchoolBOSHI

Suguha, midarePointedmaruKaeri getting longer

NAKAGO

Little information (due to suriage)

Inspiredby:

*Nihonto bijutsu numbers 4, 25,30 and 31*BitchuAoe school, Fred Weissberg*Connoisseurs book of Japanese Swords, Nagayama*Nihonto Kozo part II*Swords of the Bizen tradition, Benson & Brockbank