National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

The Pictures of the Treasures (a catalogue of the Hōryūji Treasures) says "[this monkei (inverted bell) was] used by the prince at the chanting ceremony of Srimala-simha-nada-sutra (Shōmangyō) when he was forty-six." The spot to strike (tsukiza) at the center is of a circular shape consisting of three fat-commas (mitsudomoe-mon), imitating a typical design of a drum. A god of lightning is on each side of the tsukiza, both are holding a mallet, running to hit the drum-like tsukiza in a dynamic motion. The entire shape is unusual as a kei, resembling the clapper of a bell. This is the only surviving piece with this shape and also with the lightning god motif. The design of the tsukiza, mitsudomoe-mon surrounded by a small circle pattern, is similar to that of the roof tiles of Yakushiji Tōin (the eastern temple in Yakushiji temple) and of the main hall of Hannyaji temple. Those roof tiles were made in the Kamakura period, so this monkei is thought to also be from that period.