puzzling kokuin

[loiner1965]

sorry if you seen before but i have found zilch out about this.....http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8037/kokuin.jpg

[loiner1965]

suggested by a knowledgeble member that this kokuin is of buddist origin and possibly lotus leaves and a vajra or thunderbolt...can anyone throw any light on this as i thought it was amen and ten etc

[outlier48]

Hi Steve - Ditto with the "amen and ten"!

 

I found a reference and you seem to be on the right track. It is probably a form of the Tibetan Buddhism symbol for vajra. According to Robert Beér (page 234 of his “The encyclopedia of Tibetan symbols and motifs”) it is a depiction of a thunderbolt in the form of a club with 3 or 5 prongs at one end. Seems to fit this kokuin. According to this source, the 5 pointed vajra is the “crowning symbol” on many weapons and represents the “indistinguishable nature of the five Buddha wisdoms”.

 

Maybe one of our Buddhist friends will confirm or correct.

 

Charlie

[loiner1965]

many thanks for the reply charlie....it seems i am getting closer all the time with this puzzle....its on a showa blade too so i presume it must be of some inportance other than just another war time blade etc

[outlier48]

Glad to be of some assistance - I've received so much help from others on this board. I omitted the reference to "ritual instruments" that preceded the reference to "weapons". Maybe your Showa period piece was dedicated to a temple - hence the vajra. Perhpas this will help you further in filling in the gaps. Please accept my apologies for the omission - I got too narrowly focused.

 

Charlie

[loiner1965]

any regular experts care to comment please............the internet is throwing nothing up so i think it needs the personal touch