沃懸地杏葉螺鈿太刀
身分の高い武士、特に京都の宮廷を護衛していた高名な武士は、12世紀から13世紀初頭までの期間にはこれらのような太刀を使用していたのでしょう。これらの刀はほぼ同じで、なだらかな曲線を描く刃に、銀の薄板を鮫皮状に打ち出したものをあしらった柄が付いています。鞘や革巻きなど、刀を格納して帯に帯刀するための様々な刀装具は、漆の上に金粉を散りばめた地（沃懸地）の上に、螺鈿（らでん）で杏葉文様の装飾を施した非常に凝ったものです。
鶴岡八幡宮がこの刀を所有するようになった理由や時期は定かではありませんが、これらは、国宝に指定されている最も貴重な工芸品のひとつです。刀工の職人技と、宮廷の番人との関係から、鶴岡八幡宮の創建者であり、初代鎌倉幕府将軍でもある源頼朝（1147–1199）が身につけていた刀だと推測されることもあります。
源氏は、敵対する平氏に都を追われるまで朝廷と密接な関係にあり、頼朝も青年時代には京都に住んでいたことから、この説には説得力があります。
Tachi Swords With Ikakeji Gold Lacquer, Inlaid With Mother-of-Pearl Decorations of Apricot Leaves
High-ranking samurai, especially elite members of the imperial guard in Kyoto, would have used tachi longswords like these during the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. The swords are nearly identical, and have gently curved blades with handles covered in thin silver-plate that has a texture like sharkskin. Their mountings—the scabbard, leather wrappings, and various other accessories that hold a sword and are used to attach it to the wearer’s belt—are highly ornate, decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays (raden) in an apricot-leaf pattern on a ground of lacquer densely sprinkled with gold powder (ikakeji).
Why and when they came into the possession of the shrine is not clear, but they are among its most valued artifacts and are designated National Treasures. The craftsmanship of the swords and the association with the imperial guard have led to speculation that they were worn by Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and the first Kamakura shogun. The theory is plausible, since the Minamoto clan had a close relationship with the court until they were banished from the capital by the rival Taira clan, and Yoritomo lived in Kyoto in his early years.
