Swords and the Heian Nobility
In Japan, the sword is often regarded as ‘the soul of the samurai.’ Owing to its close association with warfare, discussions of Japanese swords tend to focus on those from the late Heian period onwards, when the warrior class began to rise in prominence. However, even the aristocrats of the Heian court—seemingly far removed from the world of conflict—lived lives that were closely entwined with the sword. This is because when attending court, Heian nobles wore formal attire known as sokutai (束帯), and those of a certain rank or higher were required to wear a tachi (太刀) sword at their waist.
These swords were not intended for practical use, but rather served as ornamental items that enhanced the formality and dignity of their appearance. Suspended by a flat woven cord known as a hirao (平緒), the swords were worn with the excess length of the cord draped down the front of the body. Particularly during important seasonal court ceremonies (sechie, 節会) and imperial processions (gyoko, 行幸), nobles were required to wear kazari-tachi (飾り太刀) —decorative swords featuring grips wrapped in stingray skin and elaborate scabbards adorned with jewels, gold, silver, lacquerwork, and mother-of-pearl inlay. Sei Shonagon (清少納言), in The Pillow Book, lists ‘Karanishiki (唐錦, Tang brocade)’ and ‘kazari-tachi’ among her ‘medetakimono (めでたきもの, things that are splendid).’
One striking example of such a sword is the National Treasure ‘nashiji raden kinso no kazari tachi (梨地螺鈿金荘餝剣),’ now housed in the Tokyo National Museum. This sword was passed down within the Hirohashi family (広橋家), descendants of the illustrious Northern Fujiwara (藤原北家) line to which Fujiwara no Michinaga (藤原道長) also belonged. Its fittings, known as yamagata kanamono (山形金物), are finely engraved with chrysanthemum motifs, while the scabbard features long-tailed birds rendered in delicate mother-of-pearl inlay. Thought to date from the late 12th century, the sword measures approximately one metre in length. Despite its size, the finely crafted fittings and the subtly curved blade lend it an air of remarkable elegance.
The ‘Tsubokiri Tachi’ inherited by Prince Akishino
It was not only the aristocracy who lived closely with swords; the Emperor, too, maintained a deep connection to them. The legendary sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (草薙剣) has long been venerated alongside the Yasakani no Magatama (八尺瓊勾玉, curved jewel) and the Yata no Kagami (八咫鏡, mirror) as one of the Three Sacred Treasures, symbolising the legitimacy of the Japanese Emperor—a fact still well known today. From the early 10th century, it also became customary for the Emperor to pass down a sacred sword known as the Tsubokiri Tachi (壷切太刀) to the Crown Prince as a symbol of imperial succession, underscoring how deeply swords were woven into the fabric of Heian society.
According to the Zoku Kojidan (続古事談), a collection of tales compiled in the Kamakura period, the Tsubokiri Tachi was a sword inherited by the early Heian court noble Fujiwara no Mototsune (藤原基経) from his father. However, the origins of the sword remain unclear. What is known is that the original Tsubokiri Tachi was destroyed in a fire during the reign of Emperor Go-Sanjo (後三条), a grandson of Fujiwara no Michinaga. A newly crafted second-generation Tsubokiri then came to be used as the sword passed to each Crown Prince. Although it went missing for a time during the Jokyu Disturbance (承久の乱) in the Kamakura period, it was rediscovered several decades later. Most recently, it was formally presented by the Emperor to the current Crown Prince, Prince Akishino (秋篠宮), during the Rikkoshi-no-Rei (立皇嗣の礼) ceremony. Naturally, this is not an artefact that the general public can view. However, a sketch of the sword survives in documents concerning court rituals compiled in the Edo period. These drawings describe a beautiful tachi with a hilt wrapped in white ray skin, adorned with lapis lazuli and gold fittings, and phoenix motifs inlaid in mother-of-pearl on a lacquered nashiji (梨地) surface.
The mystery of the Sakanoue treasure sword
Although no longer extant today, another sword once passed down through the Imperial Household from the Heian to Kamakura periods was known as the Sakanoue Treasure Sword (坂上宝剣). It was said to have belonged to the famed general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (坂上田村麻呂), a figure from the reign of Emperor Kanmu (桓武), known for relocating the capital to Heian-kyo (平安京). According to the Kojidan collection of tales, the sword was endowed with miraculous powers—it would draw itself from its scabbard whenever thunder sounded.
The Kinhira Koki (公衡公記), the diary of the Kamakura-period noble Saionji Kinhira (西園寺公衡), records that this sword bore an inscription of 23 characters across both sides, expressing loyalty to the Emperor. The name Sakanoue Treasure Sword is derived from this inscription. The sword was said to feature gold makie (蒔絵, sprinkled lacquer) designs of Central Asian hunters against a black background, silver mountings, and decorative elements in white silver throughout—clearly an opulent and ceremonious tachi.
In one tale from the Kojidan, Emperor Daigo (醍醐) once brought the Sakanoue Treasure Sword with him on an imperial falconry outing, during which the ornamental ishizuki (石突) fitting at the end of the scabbard was accidentally lost. Given the sword’s status as a treasured heirloom, the Emperor was reportedly distraught, exclaiming, “This is a grave matter. Such an ancient item…” Fortunately, one of the hunting dogs later returned carrying the missing fitting in its mouth, sparing the court from further alarm.
It is said that Emperor Daigo received the Tsubokiri Tachi from his father, Emperor Uda (宇多), during his time as Crown Prince—marking the first known instance of the sword being passed down in this manner. If that is indeed true, then Emperor Daigo had more than one ancient, storied sword in his possession. It is little wonder, then, that he reacted so strongly when the Sakanoue Sword’s ornamental fitting went missing.
Incidentally, the original owner of this treasured sword, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, served as Sei-i Taishogun (征夷大将軍, Barbarian-Subduing Generalissimo) and led military campaigns against the Emishi (蝦夷), a people who lived in the Tohoku region at the time, ultimately securing the surrender of their chieftains, Aterui (阿弖流為) and More (母礼). A 10th-century biography of him, the Tamuramaro-den (田村麻呂伝), describes him as exceptionally large—approximately 177 cm tall with a chest width of 36 cm. This would suggest that the sword he wielded was also likely of considerable size. Unfortunately, there are no surviving records of its full length. One can imagine, however, that Emperor Daigo, finding the sword somewhat unwieldy, may not have even noticed when the ornamental fitting fell off—a small detail that makes this distant imperial figure suddenly feel more human.
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/culture/265772/
