Yoshimitsu

Date of birth and death unknown. A swordsmith from the late Kamakura period. He belonged to the Awataguchi school in Kyoto and was called Awataguchi Yoshimitsu. He was commonly known as Toushirou. He was a disciple of Kuniyoshi and is thought to have been active around the Shoo era (1288-1293). He was famous as a master of short swords, and his works were highly valued as one of the "Three Famous Works" along with those of Masamune and Go Yoshihiro. When Hatakeyama Masanaga was attacked by Hosokawa Masamoto, he attempted to commit seppuku with Yoshimitsu's short sword, but it was useless, so he threw it away, saying it was a useless tool. However, the sword stood on a nearby yagen (a metal tool used in pharmaceuticals), and this led to the tradition of Edo feudal lords carrying Yoshimitsu's short sword as a means of protection for its owner. There are many swordsmiths who bear the name Yoshimitsu, including Tosa Yoshimitsu and Yamato Yoshimitsu.

[Nobuo Ogasawara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。鎌倉後期の刀工。京都粟田口(あわたぐち)派に属し、粟田口吉光という。通称は藤四郎(とうしろう)。国吉の弟子で、正応(しょうおう)年間（1288～93）ごろに活躍したとみられる。短刀の名手として名高く、作品は正宗(まさむね)・郷義弘(ごうよしひろ)と並び「名物三作」と称して珍重された。畠山政長(はたけやままさなが)が細川政元に攻められ、吉光の短刀で切腹を図ったが切れないので、無益な道具だと投げ捨てたところ、傍らの薬研(やげん)（製薬に用いる金属製の器具）へ突っ立ったという「薬研藤四郎」の伝説などにより、持ち主の身を守るものとして、江戸の大名家では吉光の短刀を所持する習わしがあった。なお、吉光を名のる刀工には、土佐吉光、大和(やまと)吉光など多くを数える。

［小笠原信夫］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例