Wakizashi (Short Sword), Attributed to Nobukuni

短刀無銘（信国）

At a glance — Metalwork · Nanbokuchō period, 14th century · held by Kyoto National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan · Nobukuni.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Metalwork
Period: Nanbokuchō period, 14th century
Date: 1301–1400
Creator: Nobukuni (信国)
Dimensions: Length38.2cm:Curvature0.8cm
Held by: Kyoto National Museum
Location: Higashiyama, Kyoto
Catalogue ID: cobas-2916

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Same period: Nanbokuchō metalwork →
Same creator: Nobukuni →
At this museum: All 680 works here →

This elongated tantō by master smith Nobukuni is replete with Buddhist imagery, showing his skill as well as the influence of his probable teacher Sadamune. On one side of the blade are carvings of a heavenly canopy, a Sanskrit letter for Dainichi (Mahāvairocana) Buddha, a lotus dais, stylized antlers, and a ken (double-edged ritual sword) with a three-pronged vajra handle.

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

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-2916 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-2916
Holder's collection: ColBase — Kyoto National Museum
Photograph: Kyoto National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Wakizashi (Short Sword), Attributed to Nobukuni（短刀無銘（信国））.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-2916. Kyoto National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/wakizashi-short-sword-attributed-to-nobukuni/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)

Genre: Metalwork
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Category: Applied arts:Arms and armor:Blades:Katana|Applied arts:By media:Metalwork|Applied arts:By region:Japan
Size: Length38.2cm:Curvature0.8cm
員数: 1口
分類: 金工
種別: 工芸:武器・武具:刀剣:刀|工芸:素材別:金工|工芸:地域別:日本
法量: 刃長38.2cm:反り0.8cm
銘文等: 表に朱書銘があるが、現在摩滅して判読できない

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