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MASTERPIECESof Japan
Photograph of Mikazuki Munechika

Mikazuki Munechika

三日月宗近

National TreasureTachi sword — Heian period

National Treasure

Mikazuki Munechika

三日月宗近

Type
Tachi sword
Period and date
Heian period, 12th century
Artist
Sanjō Munechika
Material
Steel
Collection:
Tokyo National Museum

03 — Overview

One of the Five Swords Under Heaven, and said to be especially beautiful among them. Its official designation reads “Tachi, inscribed Sanjō (known as Mikazuki Munechika)”, with its itomaki-style scabbard designated alongside. Tokyo National Museum.

04 — Object data

Designation
National TreasureSource ↗
Type
Tachi sword
Category
Swords
Inscription (mei)
Sanjō
Swordsmith
Sanjō Munechika
Period
Heian period
Date
12th century
Material
Steel
Collection
Tokyo National Museum ↗
05 — Detail · Sword Sanjyo Miklazuki Munechika · By Association of Cultural Properties, Japan · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

10 — Gallery

11 — Maker

三条宗近

Sanjō Munechika

Heian period — Swordsmith, Sanjō, Kyoto

12 — Collection

Tokyo National Museum

Official website ↗

Films

Swords · PaintingIn Japanese

National Treasures of the Tokyo National Museum (exhibition)

Video title: 「東京国立博物館「国宝　東京国立博物館のすべて」」

Source: アイエム［インターネットミュージアム］Internet Museum · YouTube ↗

13 — Related objects

Photograph of Dōjigiri Yasutsuna

Dōjigiri Yasutsuna

Dōjigiri Yasutsuna

Tachi sword — Heian· National Treasure

Photograph of Ō-Kanehira

Ō-Kanehira

Ō-Kanehira

Tachi sword — Heian· National Treasure

Photograph of Okadagiri Yoshifusa

Okadagiri Yoshifusa

Okadagiri Yoshifusa

Tachi sword — Kamakura· National Treasure

Photograph of Terasawa Sadamune

Terasawa Sadamune

Terasawa Sadamune

Tantō dagger — Kamakura· National Treasure

14 — Sources & references

  1. [1]
    太刀 銘三条（名物三日月宗近）附 糸巻太刀拵鞘

    文化庁 国指定文化財等データベース · Government · Supports: Designation, Name

  2. [2]
    https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/tnm/F-20103

    Museum · Museum · Supports: Collection, Description

  3. [3]
    Wikidata Q10866080

    Wikidata · Database · Supports: Name, Date, Maker, Collection · Accessed 2026-09-25

  4. [4]
    三日月宗近

    Wikipedia（日本語版） · Encyclopedia · Supports: Description · Accessed 2026-09-25

  5. [5]
    File:Sword Sanjyo Miklazuki Munechika.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

  6. [6]
    File:Mikazuki Munechika haki-ura.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

  7. [7]
    File:Mikazuki Munechika.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

  8. [8]
    File:Nakago of Mikazuki Munechika.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

15 — Image credits

  1. Sword Sanjyo Miklazuki Munechika

    Creator / Photographer
    Association of Cultural Properties, Japan
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Sword Sanjyo Miklazuki Munechika.jpg ↗
    Credit
    Portfolio of National tresures Volume 1st, Association of Cultural Properties, Tokyo, 1952-03-30
    Licence
    Public domain

  2. Mikazuki Munechika haki-ura

    Creator / Photographer
    国立文化財機構
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Mikazuki Munechika haki-ura.jpg ↗
    Credit
    ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Museums, Japan: online database: entry tnm/F-20103
    Licence
    CC BY 4.0 ↗

  3. Mikazuki Munechika

    Creator / Photographer
    National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Mikazuki Munechika.jpg ↗
    Credit
    ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Museums, Japan: online database: entry tnm/F-20103
    Licence
    CC BY 4.0 ↗

  4. Nakago of Mikazuki Munechika

    Creator / Photographer
    Unknown authorUnknown author
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Nakago of Mikazuki Munechika.jpg ↗
    Credit
    東京帝室博物館編『東京帝室博物館復興開館陳列目録 第6』東京帝室博物館、1938年11月9日。National Diet Library Digital Collections: Persistent ID 1263478
    Licence
    Public domain
All image credits →