This is Ō-Kanehira: There are many extant Ko-Bizen swords, but none of this length, even among Kanehira’s other splendid works. The quality is likewise outstanding among Ko-Bizen blades. It was recorded with the name “Ō-Kanehira” (Great Kanehira) in the Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō, a catalogue of Japan’s finest swords and swordsmiths published in the early eighteenth century, and is highly esteemed as being meibutsu, or a “famous piece.” Indeed the blade is regarded as the greatest of all Japanese swords. The whole exhibit is fascinating.  The Met claims that, due to the diverse sources for many of these pieces, such an extensive exhibition of medieval Japanese arms and armor will never happen again.  The exhibit runs through 1/10/10.

This is Ō-Kanehira:

There are many extant Ko-Bizen swords, but none of this length, even among Kanehira’s other splendid works. The quality is likewise outstanding among Ko-Bizen blades. It was recorded with the name “Ō-Kanehira” (Great Kanehira) in the Kyōhō Meibutsu Chō, a catalogue of Japan’s finest swords and swordsmiths published in the early eighteenth century, and is highly esteemed as being meibutsu, or a “famous piece.” Indeed the blade is regarded as the greatest of all Japanese swords.

The whole exhibit is fascinating.  The Met claims that, due to the diverse sources for many of these pieces, such an extensive exhibition of medieval Japanese arms and armor will never happen again.  The exhibit runs through 1/10/10.

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