Sanskrit Symbols Wakizashi

[Romy]

Hello, I am attempting to determine what the Sanskrit Bonji mean on this blade, attributed to the Muromachi period. I believe the singular symbol is for Fudo Myo (I think?). If anyone has an idea of the other three , please do advise. 

Thanks,

Romy

 

[FlorianB]

Hello Romy,

according to the “Sword and Same”-book by Joly/Higotaro I would agree the  bonji on the omote above the ken is “Fudô Myoô”, the upper on the ura could be “Dainichi Nyorai”.

The others are very simplified and I could only speculate “Tamonten” and “Monju” - but that’s a shot in the dark.

 

Alas the bonji shown in the web seem to be almost always just reproductions from the above mentioned book (first published in 1913!), a resource for the simplified ones is obviously missing.

Florian

[Bazza]

As for the blade - I would have said early Shintou Yasutsugu school with Kinai (?) bori.  But Muromachi period???  Please tell, attributed to whom??

 

BaZZa.

[SteveM]

I think you are both right about Fudō-Myō-ō. My guesses for the rest, and the source I'm trying to match these against, are as below.

 

http://xn--uckue891j.net/index.php?%E6%A2%B5%E5%AD%97%E5%8D%B0

 

Kahn Fudō Myō-ō　(#2)

 

Han Hakui Kannon (#21) (Could also be Monju, #4, as Florian says)

Bai Bishamon-ten Tamonten (#17)

Ban Dainichi Nyorai Kongokai (#18)

 

There must be a better resource out there, but I'm always frustrated by the slight inconsistencies in how some of these are written or how they are attributed, or how they should be pronounced (especially when working backwards from katakana pronunciations). Anyway, I offer my best guesses. 

[Romy]

Thank you Florian, BaZZa and Steve!

Appreciate the guidance and resource reference!

Romy