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

Among extant Buddhist pendants, those shaped like paddle fans (uchiwa) were commonly made during the Heian period (794–1185), and those shaped like flower garlands, resembling a Hawaiian lei, appeared in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). These became the two primary forms for Buddhist pendants in later periods. The garland-like pendants are probably closer to the ornament’s origins in garlands made from real flowers in ancient India. The gilt bronze seed syllable pendants seen here were formerly owned by Hyōzu Taisha Shrine in Shiga Prefecture. Six are now owned by the Nara National Museum. Their design appears to be a compromise between the fan-shaped and flower garland types. Downward facing lotus flowers are fashioned to look as if they were strung together, and the upper part bows outward like a paddle fan. A ring is attached in the center of the top to suspend the pendant. Ornaments are hung at the bottom, though some are missing. The Sanskrit seed syllable representing the buddha Dainichi (Skt. Mahāvairocana) of the Diamond World (Skt. Vajradhātu) rests on a lotus pedestal with striated petals in the center and is backed by a pointed mandorla surrounded by flames. On either side of the mandorla, a decorative tied string hangs down like a canopy. The design is the same on the front and back. The pendants are relatively large and were made in a dignified style. This coupled with the production techniques indicates the pendants were made near the very end of the Kamakura period.