Bronzeexpand_more
Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more 98.218.1a,b
Made for Buddhist rituals, this finely finished, elegantly proportioned, lidded bottle vase and basin can be associated with the bodhisattva Guanyin (Avalokitesvara). Called an ambrosia vase, it is the type carried by Guanyin and is said to carry the elixir that comforts mortals who are seeking salvation.
Although the specific use of these utensils in Tang Buddhist rites is uncertain, the vase is inscribed with the characters ching cheng hao ("pure, righteous, and good") and the single character, feng, meaning to "bestow" or "seal up." These words suggest that these vessels might have once been sealed up as part of an offering in a dedicatory vault beneath a temple pagoda.
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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