MEI: FURUKAWA JOCHIN (KAO)

DATE: NONE c. 1750

PAPERS: NBTHK TOKUBETSU KEICHO NINTEISHO

Rich dark Shakudo front with shibuichi back. The motif depicts what may be Shoki on horseback done in katakiri bori. I am not sure if this is Shoki and may be a Chinese general instead.

The katakiri engraving is excellent as is the quality of the shibuichi. This type of katakiri engraving is what Genchin and Kochin were known for,

Jochin’s father Genchin founded the Furukawa school. Genchin was a direct student of Somin.

Courtesy of Sesko’s:

Furukawa Genchin (古川元珍)

It is said that Kichijirō Genchin (吉次郎元珍) was originally a kazari-shoku (see chapter 1.6) from the Yoshikawa family (吉川). The transmission further says that he omitted a stroke in the first character for „Yoshi“ (吉) resulting in „Furukawa“ (古川). Later he studied under Yokoya Sōmin and signed in the early phase of his career with the name „Shōju“ (聖寿). Genchin oriented his style towards that of his master, i.e. katakiribori and kebori ornamentations, and he made first and foremost kozuka. His year of birth and death are unknown but he was active around Kyōhō (1716-1736). Some sources also read the character for Genchin as „Mototaka“ or „Motoyoshi“.

He was succeeded by his son Jōchin (常珍) who continued his style.

This mei can be referenced in Bauer pg. 377, Kinko Meikan pg. 247, Haynes H02106.0, Sesko’s Swordfittings meikan pg. 101.

PAPERS: This Kozuka is accompanied by NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Ninteisho from the 1980 US Shinsa. These Tokubetsu Ninteisho papers were the highest paper awarded at that shinsa.

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