Sōryū Katana Sword (双龍) – Twin Dragons

Sōryū (双龍): the Twin Dragons

In East Asian art, two dragons depicted together embody the balance of opposing yet complementary forces. The sōryū (the twin dragons) is a motif of power and harmony, long associated with protection.

This katana brings them to life on its tsuba, where two dragons coil amongst the clouds. The fuchi and kashira echo their scales and heads, whilst the saya bears a third dragon in relief, making for a mounting entirely devoted to the legendary creature.

An iridescent blue blade graduating to violet

The blade is crafted from manganese steel, a robust alloy steel. It follows a shinogi-zukuri geometry with a chū-kissaki tip, the classical form of the katana.

What sets it apart is its colour: an iridescent blue graduating to violet, with a darker, satin-finished spine and edge. This interplay of hues evokes the shifting scales of a dragon. The blade has neither hamon nor bo-hi.

A buke-zukuri mounting with twin dragons

The kakumaru-gata tsuba (square with rounded corners) is in gilded patinated copper. Two dragons in high relief (takabori) unfurl across a background of swirling clouds, with irregular openwork (sukashi) between their bodies. A black seppa accompanies it.

The gilded patinated copper fuchi carries clouds and dragon scales in relief, whilst the kashira features a dragon’s head amongst flowing volutes. The handle combines solid wood with a faux red ray skin, beneath a hineri-maki black tsuka-ito braid, with menuki shaped as copper dragons. The black lacquered brass habaki bears a kamon in the form of a coiled dragon.

A black saya with a raised dragon

The saya is crafted in solid wood, clad in a high-gloss black roiro-nuri lacquer. At its centre, it bears a raised dragon in burnt-orange lacquer, punctuated by white inlays in the manner of raden (mother-of-pearl). The rounded koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered black in keeping with the scabbard, whilst the amber-orange kurikata with gilt rings holds a black cotton sageo.

Dimensions and handling

With a blade of 71 cm and an overall length of 103 cm, Sōryū carries the proportions of a traditional katana. Its 26.5 cm handle allows a firm two-handed grip. At 1.3 kg, the balance remains composed. It measures 105 cm in its saya, ideal for display, where its raised dragon commands full attention.