Horimono help please

[Jim Manley]

Can I get a bit of assistance with this horimono please 

Jim M 

[SteveM]

These are bonji characters - a type of Sanskrit script, used to indicate various buddhist gods. 

Bonji are often found in horimono. 

I think these three might be the ones shown photo. Fudōmyō-ō is a popular deity among the warrior class, and he is often represented by bonji (his is the one in pink). The others might be Jizo and Fugen. 

 

https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fudo.html

https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/jizo1.shtml

https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/fugen.shtml

 

[Baka Gaijin]

Sometimes, Bonji were cut into a Blade, Tsuba or Armour, for Talismanic purposes, specific to the original user's belief system.

 

If you look at Steve M's s example above, the Katakana on the right hand side of the Bonji gives the Seed Syllable Sound , which was usually the last syllable  of their individual Invocation Mantra.

 

Fudo no Myoo     - Kan

Jizo Bosatsu       -  Ka

Fugen Bosatsu   -  An

 

So it was like a shorthand way of drawing down the influence from the respective Deities

 

A little like the Omamori amulets that are available at Temples and Shrines today:

 

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Sometimes see it on nakago, too.

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Bruce,

 

There are also examples of a coded version of Bonji inscribed into the stones used in Castle Walls.

[b.hennick]

Bruce that I'd more likely if the sword has been shortened out at least had the machi raised.

[Bruce Pennington]

  On 12/13/2020 at 7:01 PM, b.hennick said:

if the sword has been shortened

Expand  

Barry,

Here are the 3 examples I have:

 

[b.hennick]

Thanks Bruce! I have never seen that before. It is always great to learn something new. In Japanese swords there is always an exception to the rule (even this one :-) )