Masamune

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/masamune

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the estimated lifespan?c. 1264–1343
2. What is the primary working period?c. 1288–1328
3. Who was Masamune?Masamune was a Japanese swordmaker who lived from about 1264 to 1343. He is famous for making swords that are still admired today.
4. What made Masamune's swords so special?His swords had beautiful lines called hamon that show how the metal was hardened. The blades were strong, balanced, and looked almost alive.

Suriage: The process of shortening the tang (nakago) of a Japanese sword, often to convert an older style into a katana.
Hada: The visible grain pattern on the surface of a Japanese sword's blade, resulting from the folding and forging process.
Nie and Nioi: Microscopic crystalline structures (nie) and their collective appearance (nioi) that form the visible hamon, indicating the temper line's quality.
Kamakura Period: A significant era in Japanese history (1185–1333) known for the rise of the samurai class and advancements in martial arts and craftsmanship.