KYOTO -- Magnificent swords are the focus of an ongoing exhibition at the Kyoto National Museum, including 19 designated national treasures and 61 important cultural properties.
Titled "Swords of Kyoto: Master Craftsmanship from an Elegant Culture," the exhibition will run through Nov. 25. It features about 200 items overall, including 170 swords.
This is a long-awaited event for sword enthusiasts and history fans, as well as players of "Touken Ranbu-ONLINE-," an online action game whose cool male characters are human embodiments of famous samurai swords. More than 20 swords associated with game characters are among the displays.
Starting this year, Oct. 4 has been established as the Day of Japanese Swords by the All Japan Swordsmith Association.
Japanese swords are clearly attracting new legions of fans.
"This event showcases swords associated with Kyoto from the Heian period to the present day," museum director Johei Sasaki said during a press conference before the exhibition's opening. "These swords are not just weapons. They also represent the Japanese mind, delicate aesthetic sensibilities and pursuit of perfection. I hope people will keep this in mind and appreciate them."
Japan's imperial capital for about 1,100 years, Kyoto has long been a center of cultural activities and home to many talented craftspeople, including swordsmiths. The superlative swords they produced always held the highest status, prized by nobility and samurai alike, the exhibition's catalogue explains.
The exhibition consists of eight sections, and chronologically features many items produced by swordsmiths who belonged to the tradition known as Yamashiro, the former name of the province around Kyoto.
"Yamashiro swords are the highest in terms of status, quality, and artistic and cultural value," said Toshihiko Suekane, a researcher at the museum who directed the exhibition. "Because of these characteristics, not many Yamashiro swords were made and their distribution was very limited."
"Meibutsu: Mikazuki Munechika," a long sword on display in the first section of the exhibition, is said to be the finest creation of Sanjo Munechika, who is believed to have originated the tradition of Yamashiro swordsmiths. The item, made in the 12th century, is a designated national treasure.
Today, this item is like a pop idol of the sword world for some people, because the human character based on this sword, named Mikazuki Munechika, is featured in the online game.
To the delight of its fans, the blade is contained in a glass showcase visible from all sides, and looks like it's being held in position to fight. Visitors can admire this elegantly curved item from all directions. Its tip is only a few centimeters from their eyes, letting them imagine what it would be like when really used.
Making swords may seem to have nothing to do with noble people. There is strong evidence, however, that Emperor Gotoba (1180-1239) was an exception.
He ascended the Imperial throne without the official ritual passing of the sacred Imperial regalia, including the sacred sword, from his predecessor. Even worse, the sword disappeared during a battle. It makes a great deal of sense that Emperor Gotoba would be very frustrated by the lack of the sword and decide to re-create it.
In the second chapter there are four blades, all named "Kiku Gosaku," that are said to have been made by swordsmiths summoned by Emperor Gotoba himself, although they were each passed down to different people. Gotoba was well versed in both literary and military arts.
He attempted to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate, the first samurai government, but failed and died in exile. Gotoba's great enthusiasm for swords probably stemmed from his desire to regain the Imperial symbol and also to secure practical power.
Swords can often symbolize the status, pride and power of people who own them.
"Meibutsu: Yoshimoto Samonji," a long sword to be on display through Oct. 28 in the eighth chapter, is known for its powerful appearance. Its gold-inlay inscription states that the mighty warlord Oda Nobunaga captured the sword from rival Imagawa Yoshimoto during the Okehazama War in 1560. The sword was later owned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nobunaga's successor, and then by the Tokugawa family, which took power from the Toyotomi family.
Some paintings are also on display to illustrate how swords were actually used. A picture scroll titled "Illustrated Tales of the Zenkunen (Former Nine Years') War," drawn in the 13th century, depicts many warriors wielding swords in the famous war that occurred in the current Tohoku region.
"Illustrated Tale of Hidetsugu" includes a scene depicting Toyotomi Hidetsugu committing harakiri suicide with a sword at the order of his powerful uncle Hideyoshi. A man holding a sword in his hand stands behind Hidetsugu, ready to behead him.
"Okuni Kabuki," a beautiful folding screen made in the 17th century, features the famous entertainer Izumo no Okuni dancing in her avant-garde style with a sheathed sword on her shoulder and another on her side. Her dance became very popular and is thought to be the origin of modern kabuki.
The last part of this exhibition is in a large room and surrounded by a dozen Buddhist statues. This setting is quite soothing, considering that this exhibition focuses on a weapon primarily for life-or-death fighting.
According to Suekane, the exhibition features many items being shown to the public for the first time, and new discoveries resulting from recent academic research. These items are specially marked to attract visitors' attention. One of the items is the original naginata halberd associated with the Naginata-boko float, which leads the grand procession during the annual Gion Festival in Kyoto. As a reproduced halberd is installed on top of the float, "People know about the halberd, but nobody has seen its original," Suekane said.
Collaboration with online game
Museum director Sasaki said this exhibition was greatly inspired by the popularity of "Touken Ranbu-ONLINE-." Life-size panels of characters from the game are on display at Meiji Kotokan, the museum's original building opened in 1897, along with illustrations drawn for this exhibition and a pop-up store selling products associated with the game. Photos can be taken in this historic red-brick building.
"Swords of Kyoto: Master Craftsmanship from an Elegant Culture" will run through Nov. 25 at the Kyoto National Museum in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. The museum is closed on Mondays. Some exhibits will be changed for the latter half of the exhibit, starting on Oct. 30. A leaflet in English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese is provided at the venue containing brief explanations about Japanese swords. For more information, visit www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/index.html
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