Samonji the Swordsmith/Origin

Samonji Genkei 左文字源慶 was a swordsmith alive during the Kamakura/Nanbokuchō periods in Japan. Originally from Chikuzen Province, he was the founder of the Samonji school of sword-making. It is said that he was a disciple of Masamune 正宗, a master swordsmith of the Kamakura period from Sagami Province, and he was counted among the "Ten great disciples of Masamune" (正宗十哲). Among his works, the Kōsetsu samonji 江雪左文字 and the Sōza samonji 宗三左文字 are designated as National Treasures of Japan.