# Hikoshiro Sadamune > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hikoshiro_Sadamune > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hikoshiro_Sadamune.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikoshiro_Sadamune > Source revision: 1334372433 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Japanese swordsmith *[Tantō](/source/Tant%C5%8D)* Terasawa Sadamune, [National Treasure](/source/National_Treasure_(Japan)), [Tokyo National Museum](/source/Tokyo_National_Museum) *Tantō* Tokuzenin Sadamune, National Treasure, [Mitsui Memorial Museum](/source/Mitsui_Memorial_Museum) *[Wakizashi](/source/Wakizashi)* Ishida Sadamune, [Important Cultural Property](/source/Important_Cultural_Property_(Japan)), Tokyo National Museum A *[katana](/source/Katana)* modified from a *[tachi](/source/Tachi)*, Kiriha Sadamune, Important Cultural Property, Tokyo National Museum **Hikoshirō Sadamune** (相模國住人貞宗 - *Sagami kuni junin Sadamune*;[1] born 1298 [Einin](/source/Einin) – 1349 in [Shōhei](/source/Sh%C5%8Dhei)[2]) also called **Sōshū Sadamune** was a [swordsmith](/source/Swordsmith) of the [Sōshū school](/source/Japanese_sword#Classification_by_school), originally from Gōshū (also known as [Ōmi province](/source/%C5%8Cmi_province)) whose works are considered some of the finest blades ever created. His works are often compared with those of the other great Koto era (987-1596) swordsmiths including Sōshū [Masamune](/source/Masamune), [Toshiro Yoshimitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toshiro_Yoshimitsu&action=edit&redlink=1), [Go Yoshihiro](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Go_Yoshihiro&action=edit&redlink=1), [Bizen Nagamitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bizen_Nagamitsu&action=edit&redlink=1), and Ise [Muramasa](/source/Muramasa). He was a son by blood or adoption[3] of Sōshū Masamune considered by many to be the most famous of the Sōshū masters.[4][5] After leaving Gōshū province to go to what is now [Kanagawa Prefecture](/source/Kanagawa_Prefecture), Sadamune became a student of [Masamune](/source/Masamune), sometime around the [Namboku-chō](/source/Namboku-ch%C5%8D)[5] era. As a mark of his completion of his teacher's training he inherited the *mune* part of his name Sadamune from Masamune. Sadamune was not one of the [Great Juttetsu](/source/Masamune#Students) trained by Masamune, but his works were regarded to be of the same level as his master's. ## Students Sōshū Sadamune is believed at the present time to have trained four students Nobukuni (信国)[6] who formed a long lineage of swordsmiths under the same name, Nobukuni[7] famous for his *[horimono](/source/Horimono)* images carved into the blades, and Takagi Sadamune (江州□住貞宗 - goshu takaki ju Sadamune).[8] A great debate exists in the academic community about *Takagi Sadamune*.[9] It is uncertain if Takagi Sadamune is simply Sōshū Sadamune after he returned to his home region, a son of his or someone who he taught sword making. The swords of Takagi Sadamune are not considered to be as high a quality as those produced by Sōshū Sadamune but are still of exceptional skill. One signed copy of his work exists: a [tantō](/source/Tant%C5%8D) blade, formerly owned by [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/source/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi).[9] The work signed *Gōshū Takagi ju Sadamune* is said to have been made when Sōshū Sadamune returned home to Takagi in Gōshū province. Legend says he returned home to produce a copy of a famous sword called the *Ropecutter*. He also trained [Kanro Toshinaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kanro_Toshinaga&action=edit&redlink=1) who is believed to have worked in [Echigo province](/source/Echigo_province) in the Nanboku-chō period.[10][11] [Higo Munekage](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Higo_Munekage&action=edit&redlink=1) (Higo No-Kuni Kumamoto-Kishi, Hagi Jiemon No-Sho Fujiwara Munekage Saku) who was a student of [Suishinshi Masahide](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Suishinshi_Masahide&action=edit&redlink=1) takes a great influence from Sadamune in his work, but wasn't a student of his.[Higo Munekage Katana](http://www.legacyswords.com/nihontocons1.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040728/http://www.legacyswords.com/nihontocons1.htm) 2007-09-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) [Kokon Mei Zukushi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kokon_Mei_Zukushi&action=edit&redlink=1) and other books listing Japanese sword smiths and blades list [Motoshige](/source/Motoshige) as a student of Sadamune however Dr. Honma Junji disagrees with this in his book [Nihon Koto Shi (History of Koto) By Dr. Honma Junji](http://www.touken.or.jp/english/nihon_koto_shi/(22)%20No%20569.htm) ## See also - [Masamune](/source/Masamune) - [List of Wazamono](/source/List_of_Wazamono) - [Tantō](/source/Tant%C5%8D) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Nihonto Knowledge Base](http://www.jssus.org/nkb/) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Family tree"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070311112037/http://www.reninet.com/shoshin/tosan2.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.reninet.com/shoshin/tosan2.htm) on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2006-10-16. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Masamune Info](http://www.jssus.org/nkb/nkb.php?id=MAS590) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Sano Museum"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061009081607/http://bushidojapaneseswords.com/Sano%20museum1.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/Sano%20museum1.htm) on 2006-10-09. Retrieved 2006-10-16. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-arm_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-arm_5-1) [Swords Discussion Forum](http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=69995) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Nobukuni 1](http://www.jssus.org/nkb/nkb.php?id=NOB298) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Nobukuni 2](http://www.jssus.org/nkb/nkb.php?id=NOB300) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Takagi Sadamune](http://www.jssus.org/nkb/nkb.php?id=SAD539) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TagagiSword_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TagagiSword_9-1) [Takagi Sadamune Tantō Blade](http://www.nihonto.ca/takagi-sadamune/index.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Ura Nihon no Toko - By Yoshikawa Kentaro](http://www.nihontocraft.com/Ura_Nihon_no_Toko.html) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [- Kanro Toshinaga blade sale](http://www.sho-shin.com/ss1-1.pdf#search='Soshu%20Sadamune') ## External links - [Nobukuni(1) and Nobukuni(2).](https://web.archive.org/web/20070311184153/http://www.reninet.com/shoshin/nobukuni.htm) - [1st Nobukuni](http://www.touken.or.jp/english/nihon_koto_shi/(31)%20No.582.htm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hikoshiro Sadamune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikoshiro_Sadamune) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikoshiro_Sadamune?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.