Tenka-Goken


The Tenka-Goken are a group of five Japanese swords. Three are List_of_National_Treasures_of_Japan_|National Treasures of Japan, one an Imperial Property, and one a holy relic of Nichiren Buddhism. Among the five, some regard Dōjigiri as "the yokozuna of all Japanese swords".

Origin

As of 2017, the term is widely recognized among Japanese sword connoisseurs. For example, the national institute uses the word in an explanation for Mikazuki. Although some books claim that the term dates back to the Muromachi period, its exact origin is unknown. Suiken Fukunaga cites a book Yorozu Kaimono Chohōki written in the fifth year of Genroku, so the term is traceable back to at least the late 17th century if the citation is to be believed.
Kanzan Sato commented that in terms of pure quality from the viewpoint of modern sword connoisseurs, although they are undoubtedly five of the greatest swords, it is doubtful whether they are the five greatest swords. He guessed that the criteria of this selection include the values of legends associated to these famous swords.

List

Sometimes the selection differs from the following list. For instance, a list by Kanzan Sato includes Ichigo-hitofuri Yoshimitsu, an Imperial Property of Japan, instead of Onimaru .
Officially each sword is called by the combination of meibutsu, name, and the personal name of its bladesmith, for example, meibutsu Dōjigiri Yasutsuna, often shortened as Dōjigiri Yasutsuna.
NameSignatureBladesmithClassificationNote
Dōjigiri安綱Hōki-no-Kuni YasutsunaNational Treasure10–12th century. Tachi. Length 80.0cm, curvature 2.7cm. Owned by Tokyo National Museum. Legends say Minamoto no Yorimitsu killed the monster Shuten-dōji with this sword. Sometimes it is called "the yokozuna of all Japanese swords" because of its perfection; it is of great historical value as one of the oldest extant katana-type weapons, the quality and the artistic value of the blade is exquisite, it has been kept in good preservation, and the legend tied to the sword is notable.
Onimaru國綱Awataguchi Sakon-no-Shōgen KunitsunaImperial PropertyTachi. Length 78.3cm. Owned by the Imperial Household Agency. Along with Ōdenta and Futatsu-mei, the sword was considered to be one of the three regalia swords of the shōguns of the Ashikaga clan. The epic Taiheiki includes a story that the sword moved by itself and killed an oni demon who was cursing Hōjō Tokimasa, from which the name Onimaru came.
Mikazuki三条Sanjō Kokaji MunechikaNational Treasure10–12th century. Tachi. Length 80cm, curvature 2.7cm, scabbard length 85.3cm. Owned by Tokyo National Museum. It is called Mikazuki because of its "crescent-moon-shaped pattern of the tempering". The yōkyoku Kokaji tells a legend that Munechika was graced by the god Inari.
Ōdenta光世作Miike Denta MitsuyoNational TreasureTachi. Length 66.1cm, curvature 2.7cm. Owned by Maeda Ikutokukai. Along with Onimaru and Futatsu-mei, the sword was considered to be one of the three regalia swords of the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan. Later passed down to Maeda Toshiie. A legend says the sword healed a daughter of Toshiie and another legend says birds never try to approach to a warehouse where this sword is stored.
Juzumaru恒次Aoe TsunetsuguImportant Cultural PropertyTachi. Length 81.08cm, curvature 3.0cm. Owned by Honkōji Temple, Amagasaki. The name came from a legend that Nichiren adorned the sword with a juzu to cleanse evil spirits.