Kiku-ichimonji
Kiku-ichimonji (菊一文字) ("Chrysanthemum and Ichi character"), also "Kiku-ichimoji", often and somewhat erroneously romanized as "Kikuichi-monji", is a collective name given to the Japanese swords made by the thirteen swordsmiths who were in attendance to the Emperor Go-Toba in 1208. Each swordsmith was in attendance to the emperor for a month of the Japanese calendar. The swordsmiths of the Fukuoka School traditionally inscribed only the character "Ichi" (一, one) on the tang as their signature. They further received permission to append the Imperial chrysanthemum crest (菊, kiku) on the tang, thus their swords are known collectively as "Kiku-ichimonji". Go-Toba was interested in the construction of Japanese swords, and so he summoned these swordsmiths, granting them court rank and title, and asked them to share the secrets of the production of higher-quality swords.
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[edit] List of Swordsmiths
- 1st month: Norimune (from Fukuoka in Bizen Province)
- 2nd month: Sadatsugu (from Ko-aoe in Bitchū Province)
- 3rd month: Nobufusa (from Fukuoka in Bizen Province)
- 4th month: Kuniyasu (from Awataguchi in Yamashiro Province)
- 5th month: Tsunetsugu (from Ko-aoe in Bitchū Province)
- Intercalary month: Hisakuni (from Awataguchi in Yamashiro Province)
- 6th month: Kunitomo (from Awataguchi in Yamashiro Province)
- 7th month: Muneyoshi (from Fukuoka, in Bizen Province)
- 8th month: Tsuguie (from Ko-aoe in Bitchū Province)
- 9th month: Sukemune (from Fukuoka in Bizen Province)
- 10th month: Yukikuni (from Fukuoka in Bizen Province)
- 11th month: Sukenari (from Fukuoka in Bizen Province)
- 12th month: Sukenobu (from Fukuoka in Bizen Province)
[edit] Kiku-ichimonji in fiction
Owing to the popularity of Shiba Ryōtarō's fiction, many modern fans of the Shinsengumi believe a Kiku-ichimonji made by Norimune to have been Okita Soji's sword. Historically, Okita used a sword made by Kiyomitsu of Kaga Province, among other blades.
In the anime and manga versions of Rurouni Kenshin, a Norimune-made Kiku-ichimonji is wielded by Seta Sōjirō (who is based on a darker Okita from the novel Shinsengumi Keppuroku.)
It appears in the video game Golden Sun as an artifact weapon, of the Light Blade Style. The special attack it delivers is Asura in which a samurai strikes the target at the same power as the equipped character.
It also appears in several video games in the Final Fantasy series. In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, it is a katana-type weapon that can be used by either a Ninja or an Assassin. It gives Ninja the 'Metal Veil' A-Ability, and Assassins the 'Nightmare' A-Ability. It is described as a 'sword so beautiful it seems a shame to use it.' As 'Kiku-ichimonji', it appears in Final Fantasy III as a dark blade and in Final Fantasy V Advance, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII as a katana. It is described as being engraved with a chrysanthemum, the Imperial Seal of Japan, just as in the real kiku-ichimonji.
In the video game Riviera: The Promised Land, it is a very powerful sword usably only by Fia, who uses the Oboro-Garasu skill. Different than the normal swords, which can be used 30-50 times before disappearing, the Kiku-Ichimonji can be used only five times.
The Gerbera Straight, carried by Lowe Guele's Gundam Astray Red Frame in Gundam SEED Astray series, is a translation of kiku-ichimonji, and is also forged by 13 swordsmiths.
One of Zero's weapons in Mega Man X: Command Mission, is known as the Z-Ichimonji. It is a long, straight metal blade, unique among the character's many beam sabers.
[edit] References
- Brief history and list of the 13 Kiku-ichimonji swordsmiths (19 Sept. 2007)
- (Japanese) Japanese Wikipedia page on Norimune's Kiku-ichimonji (19 Sept. 2007)
- (Japanese) "Beloved Swords of the Shinsengumi members" (19 Sept. 2007)
- (Japanese) Kikuichi sword on display at Seikado Museum [1] in Tokyo
[edit] External links
- Kikuichi cutlery company with historical ties to a Go-Toba era swordsmith [2]
- Reproduction of Norimune's Kiku-ichimonji sword (19 Sept. 2007)
