lotus shaped; front and back are identical and include 9 seeds each; hole at top of each end

Ritual Chime, second half 14th century

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Gilt bronzeexpand_more

The Putnam Dana McMillan Fundexpand_more  2000.79

Not on Viewexpand_more

Buddhist priests strike bronze chimes like this one with a small mallet to signal the start of ceremonies and to mark the titles of sutras (holy writings) as they are chanted. Suspended from small wooden frames, they are placed to the right of the officiating priest. The earliest chimes made in Japan were simple, geometric shapes but, by the 12th century, metalworkers were creating more elaborate, often beautifully detailed examples. This chime is in the shape of a blossoming lotus flower, a Buddhist symbol of purity.

Details
Title
Ritual Chime
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2000.79
Curator Approved

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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lotus shaped; front and back are identical and include 9 seeds each; hole at top of each end