Blade for a Dagger ("Tantō")

The tempering pattern on this dagger is rather plain but seems to evoke a feeling of tension. This dagger was owned by the shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna (1641—1680). This tanto dagger has a straight blade with a length of 25 cm. A fine pattern like wood grain is visible on the dark portion of the blade. There is also a gleaming pattern, called a hamon, that separates the dark and light portions of the blade. The hamon on this dagger is nearly a straight line. Although this tanto may seem plain as a whole, its simple design is brimming with a distinctive tension. Crystalline grains called nie are visible over its entire surface.

The nie, which look like black spots on the dark portions of the blade, form scattered clusters that can look like lines. In the hamon, the nie look like bright, shining spots, and their scattered clusters form sinuous lines that resemble lightning. Its maker, Soshu Kunimitsu, was a swordsmith active in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture during the 13th and 14th centuries. He left behind many swords with nie that lends their steel an intricate appearance. This style was later inherited by Masamune, among others, and became one of the defining styles of Japanese swords.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.