Bokken vs Shinken: What Is the Difference?

The shinken and the bokken are two traditional Japanese swords that have been used in the martial arts for centuries. In particular, practitioners of iaijutsu, the martial art of drawing and cutting with a sword, and practitioners of tameshigiri, the art of cutting practice targets, often use these swords. But although the shinken and the bokken are similar in size and shape, they are two completely different swords, each with its own characteristics.

Overview of the shinken

The term "shinken" means "living sword", which is its defining feature. Although the shinken is used in martial arts practice, it always has a real blade, traditionally made from high-carbon tamahagane steel. The blade of a shinken is sharpened to a fine edge, which allows it to cut the practice target more easily during tameshigiri.

It is worth noting that there are different types of shinken. Gendaito, for example, are considered the highest-quality shinken on the market. Today, only about 250 swordsmiths make them. Because of their rarity, gendaito shinken are extremely hard to find, and even if you do find one, you will have to pay a high price for it, typically between about £4,400 and £8,700 for the blade alone, and even more for the complete sword.

Overview of the bokken

The bokken, although it is also made in Japan, is not the same as the shinken. The term "bokken" literally means "wooden sword". Unlike the shinken, the bokken is not made of metal and has no live blade. Instead, it is made entirely or mainly of wood, which means it cannot have a cutting edge. The bokken has a shape and size similar to those of the shinken, as well as other traditional Japanese swords such as the katana, but it has no live blade.

Practitioners of Japanese martial arts often prefer to use the bokken over other swords because it reduces the risk of injury. Since the bokken is made of wood, the risk of a practitioner accidentally cutting themselves while handling and using it is low, even non-existent. That said, the bokken is not a suitable sword for every Japanese martial art. Tameshigiri, for example, requires a sword with a live blade. Otherwise, practitioners would not be able to cut the practice target.

This training sword also appears in several manga, such as Tokyo Ghoul and Naruto.

The shinken and the bokken are similar in that both are used in the Japanese martial arts. Of the two swords, however, only the shinken has a live blade with a cutting edge.