| The Bōkan Sennin motif depicts an immortal sitting quietly in the mountains, gazing into the distant landscape. It symbolizes a state removed from the worldly realm and in harmony with nature, and is regarded as an auspicious theme representing longevity, purity of character, and transcendence. It was favored on sword fittings as a cultured design expressing spiritual ideals beyond martial concerns.The artist Jounsai Hirotoshi (如雲斎弘寿) is Uchikoshi Hirotoshi (打越弘寿). He studied under Tamagawa Yoshinaga (玉川吉長) and, in his youth, went to Edo where he trained in the Hamano school before returning to his home province. He is counted among the notable masters of the Mito metalworkers. Using the art names Ichijōsai (一乗斎) and Jounsai (如雲斎), he trained many disciples.A distinctive feature of the Uchikoshi Hirotoshi school is the powerful cursive signature cut with a katakiri chisel. His students likewise used the character “Hiro” (弘) in their names, and the group formed an influential circle among the late-Edo Mito metalworkers.This tsuba passed the NBTHK Hozon Tōsōgu shinsa in 2013. |
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