沸本位 (Nie Hon'i)

What is Nie Hon'i in Japanese Katana terminology?

Nie Hon'i refers to a type of blade pattern (Hamon) in Japanese swords. ""沸"" (Nie) refers to the large, white crystals that appear in the blade pattern (Hamon) and can be identified with the naked eye. Among the blade pattern (Hamon)s that appear in swords, those with a strong Nie are called ""沸本位"" (Nie Hon'i).

In the appraisal of Japanese swords, it is said that it is important to discern whether the blade pattern (Hamon) is ""匂本位"" (Nioi Hon'i: a pattern primarily composed of Nioi, which are smaller particles that form a pattern on the blade when it is tempered) or ""沸本位"" (Nie Hon'i). This discernment can provide important clues about the sword's origin, the era in which it was made, and the techniques used by the swordsmith.