Japanese Esoteric Buddhist Ritual Implement, 19th-20th Century - Five-Prong Vajra with Three Wrathful Heads (18.3 cm Length)

Acquired from an overseas collector. Dated to the 19th-20th century. A religious artifact with nearly a century of history. The four spokes feature the early form of three wrathful heads. Total length 18.3 cm. Weight 486 grams. Brass alloy. Hand-carved and finished. A ritual implement with a tangible history of practice. Originally purchased by the overseas seller from the United States. Likely a souvenir from the period when American forces occupied Japan after World War II. ********************************* Regarding the energetic resonance of ritual implements: I personally do not possess a sensitive constitution for such perceptions. Whether it be ancient Tibetan Phurba or Vajra, or Japanese Esoteric Buddhist single-prong, three-prong, or five-prong vajras, I experience no distinct sensations. However, when acquiring a large quantity of Tibetan vajras this year, I also obtained several Japanese vajras. One evening, while handling a single-prong vajra, I placed it under my pillow before sleeping. Unexpectedly, I dreamt of a fire ritual, smelling the scent of burning pine resin. As I have often burned broken amber and beeswax prayer beads for friends in recent years, allowing them to learn the aroma of genuine amber and beeswax when burned, I paid particular attention to the scent in my dream, experiencing it three times. Thus, in my dream, I confirmed it was indeed the scent of burning resins like pine and beeswax. Upon waking at dawn, after over 30 years of touching countless ritual implements without any notable sensation, I was able to receive a dream-like resonance from this single-prong vajra. A fellow collector of antiquities from the south once remarked, "The spiritual power of Japanese practitioners surpasses that of Tibetans. Do not underestimate Japanese ritual implements." On December 7, 2024, a fellow practitioner, a Daoist brother who has long engaged in spiritual cultivation and meditation, visited. He perceived the energies of several ritual implements I possess, both Tibetan (11th-18th century) and Japanese old vajras. Upon holding them, he could not stop yawning, unable to cease. He exclaimed, "The energy field is so powerful!" Then, looking at me with disbelief, he asked, "You feel nothing when touching these implements?" After his energetic assessment, he took photos to show his master. Upon hearing my explanation of each artifact's age and acquisition price, the following morning, he hesitantly requested to purchase three Japanese Esoteric Buddhist ritual implements (single-prong, three-prong, and five-prong vajras) from me. He noted that the energetic resonance of Japanese ritual implements is nearly as powerful as that of Tibetan ones, yet their prices differ significantly, much like the price disparity between Tibetan Dzi beads and West Asian beads. He likely calculated that Japanese ritual implements would be more affordable. On December 19, 2024, he made a special trip from the south to visit me and reported that the evening he brought the Japanese ritual implements home, he placed two by his bedside. He then dreamt of two dragons, one large and one small, appearing within the vajras. Having cultivated his senses for many years, he expressed great surprise and delight. ********************************** On December 18, 2024, I made an offering to Master Ugyen Khenpo at the Dharma center. I inquired if there were any Dharma methods in Tibetan Buddhism that involve the practice of the three-prong vajra. The Master replied that only householder yogis engage in contemplation, a practice solely through visualization, imagining the three-prong vajra in their mouths. In practice, the ritual implement itself is not utilized. 12000-114.03.01