Sanko-ken Wakizashi (三鈷剣) – Three-Pronged Vajra Sword

Sanko-ken (三鈷剣): the sacred sword

The sanko-ken is the sacred sword of esoteric Buddhism, its handle taking the form of a sanko : a three-pronged vajra. It is the weapon of Fudō Myōō, the guardian deity who severs ignorance and earthly passions. It frequently appears as an engraving (horimono) on Japanese blades, serving as a form of spiritual protection.

This wakizashi carries that representation on its blade: a sword with a trident-shaped handle, engraved along the shinogi-ji. The habaki, sculpted with a battle scene, speaks to the warrior vocation of that same protection.

A T10 steel blade with a genuine notare hamon and horimono

The blade is forged in T10 steel, a high-carbon steel valued for its hardness. It has been clay-tempered, bringing forth a genuine notare hamon with soft, undulating waves. The mirror-polished steel appears bright along the cutting edge and darkens toward the spine.

It presents a shinogi-zukuri geometry with a chū-kissaki point. A decorative horimono depicting the sacred sword runs along the shinogi-ji on the omote side. The blade is hand-sharpened, an artisanal finish that sets it apart.

A black hamidashi mounting

This wakizashi is mounted in hamidashi style, with a small round (maru-gata) guard in blackened iron, its surface bright-polished (migaki), without openings, and with a rounded rim (maru-mimi). A gilt brass seppa completes the fitting.

The fuchi and kashira in polished blackened alloy are left unadorned. The handle combines wood with faux white ray skin beneath a brown tsuka-ito wrapped in hineri-maki, with black menuki. The ichimai habaki in gilt copper is sculpted with a scene of horsemen and warriors in combat (takabori).

An orange-red saya with golden flakes

The saya is solid wood, covered in an orange-red lacquer with golden flakes in the nashiji manner. The koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered in high-gloss black. The black-lacquered kurikata holds a burgundy cotton sageo.

Dimensions and handling of the wakizashi

With a blade of 51 cm and an overall length of 78 cm, the Sanko-ken carries the proportions of a wakizashi, the shorter companion to the katana. Its 23 cm handle offers a comfortable single-handed grip, and the reduced guard gives it a slender, refined profile. At 1 kg, it remains highly manoeuvrable. It measures 80 cm in its saya, a format that showcases its horimono to full effect.