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Goto Teijo 後藤程乘, a futodokorimono, circa
1650
Certification:
NBTHK Tokubetsu hozon
Goto Teijo (1603-1673), ninth Shirobei master, was the son of Kenjo, the seventh Shirobei
mainline master. His real name was Genichiro, which was changed to
Mitsumasa after his twenty-second birthday. Mitsumasa's uncle was
Sokujo
Mitsushige (1600-1631), the eighth Goto Shirobei master. Sokujo died at a
very early age, and because his son Renjo, at four years old was too
young, Mitsumasa became the guardian of the family. He was to fully
inherit the title as head of the Goto during Kan-ei 13th (1636), becoming
the ninth master. In the third year of Shoho (1646), when he was
forty-four, Mitsumasa changed his name to Teijo. For some time,
Goto Teijo
was in the service of Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth Shogun. He also worked for the
Maeda family
as second master of the Kaga Goto school. When Renjo came of age around
Shoo 1st (1652), Teijo retired as head of the family. Soon after this, he
became a full-time retainer of Maeda Toshitsune (1593-1658). Along with
his cousin Enjo, Teijo Mitsumasa continued to work for the
Maeda clan in Kaga, and the Edo Baku-fu, until his death in
the first year of Enpo.
The Goto school artists are known as Iebori, or "House
carvers", producing fittings suitable for court functions. Besides the making of sword fittings, the
Goto family also operated the National mint that produced most of the gold
coins used during these times.
Shakudo-nanako with the design showing branches of snow
covered winter fruit (mikan/mandarin oranges) in shakudo, gold, and
silver. Both signed Teijo (程乗)
with Kao.
This set comes from
a formal wakizashi koshirae belonging to a blade by Nanki Shigekuni.
Photos by Jack Edick
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