Shonai is the current Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, Sakai clan's 140,000 koku domain. Famous metalworkers include Chinkyu [珍久], who spread the Nara school to Shonai, his disciple Yasuchika [安親] (the first generation) who later married his daughter, Washida Mitsunaka [鷲田光仲], and Katsurano Sekibun [桂野赤文]. This plain copper tsuba is thick and mokko shape with two square hitsu-ana holes. It may not look very sophisticated, but the inlaid auspicious clouds give it a sophisticated look. It has passed the Hozon Tosogu shinsa in February 2025 and attributed to the Shonai tradition. |