Bonji ID

[jblack]

Hi all,

Yet another question.

I have a katana signed Soshu Ju Yasuharu Saku with a Bonji carved on the ura and Shin no Kurikara on the omote.

I have been searching for the defination/specific meaning of the bonji, but the only place I have see it is: Masamune, A Genius Swordsmith and His Lineage

By: Sano Art Museum, 2002 on the following pages - 84,85; 85,86; 88,89; 90,91.

 

Is it defined on any of the pages (Japanese text) or does someone know?

 

Many thanks,

Jeff

[Brian]

http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/bonji.html

There seem to be a few possible ones there? Haven't got time to check them all out, will try a bit later.

 

Brian

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Seems to be

 

 

Bato Kwannon (protector of the horse an peasant)

 

[Nobody]

My guess is;

 

ä¸å‹•æ˜ŽçŽ‹ – Fudô Myô-ô

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acala

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

I think you are right Moryama san, i've forgotten a stroke

[Brian]

I also came to the conclusion that it was Fudô

 

Brian

[jblack]

Thanks folks!

 

I started with the Nihonto Kanji Pages, but had trouble with the script like characters. Something else to work on.

 

ä¸å‹•æ˜ŽçŽ‹ – Fudô Myô-ô it is then. Thanks again.

 

Cheers,

Jeff

[Paul Martin]

Fudo Myo-O

 

One of the most popular horimono is the image of the Buddhist deity Fudo-Myo-O (Acala). Surrounded by flames, he is the foremost of the five 'Kings of light' in esoteric Buddhism. His angry stare, indicates his judiciary position, intolerant of evil and wickedness. Fudo-Myo-O, the Immovable King of light, holds a rope in his left hand and a straight double-edged sword in his right hand. The hilt of the sword is a vajra (esoteric Buddhist ritual implement). The three prongs of the vajra represent the Buddha, the Lotus and the ultimate reality. The rope is to bind the enemies of enlightenment whilst the sword is to cut through the illusionary world to the ultimate reality. Carvings of Fudo-Myo-O come in several different forms. Sometimes it is the simple sanscrit character for Fudo. There are also several variations of Fudo depicted by a dragon wrapped around a sword (the sword is Fudo's sword whilst the dragon is a symbolization Fudo's rope).

 

The patron deity of Japanese swordsmen, Fudo is the representation of the immovable state of mind, that swordsmen try to attain through regular practice. This does not mean to become static, but to be unmoved by the distractions of the illusionary world and to see the ultimate reality beyond the illusions of life and death.

 

The two small hi are a reresentation of gomabashi-chopstick like utensils used in a buddhist ritual to fead a fire from which Fudo-myo-o is invoked

 

Best

[jblack]

Paul,

Re: The two small hi are a reresentation of gomabashi-chopstick like utensils used in a buddhist ritual to fead a fire from which Fudo-myo-o is invoked

 

That is the first time I have heard of the reasons for the gomabashi.

 

Many thanks,

Jeff