Important Cultural PropertyRitual Bell with Sacred Jewels, Single-Pronged Vajra Ritual Bell and Three-Pronged Vajra Ritual Bell (Three form a set of five ritual bells)

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  • 金銅宝珠鈴・金銅独鈷鈴・金銅三鈷鈴(五種鈴のうち)
  • 3 pieces
  • Gilt bronze
  • Late Heian to early Kamakura period/12th century
  • Nara National Museum
  • 1362(工290)

  These are the three surviving bells of the set of five ritual bells. This is a set of five ritual bells including a single-pronged vajra ritual bell (tokko rei), a three-pronged vajra ritual bell (san ko rei), a five-pronged vajra ritual bell (go ko rei), a ritual bell with a pagoda (to rei) and a ritual bell with sacred jewels (hoju rei) and they symbolize the five Buddhas (Skt. Pañcatathāgata) in the Diamond World (Skt. Vajradhātu) including Dainichi (Skt. Mahāvairocana). A ritual bell with a pagoda is placed in the center of the large platform where esoteric Buddhism is practiced, and the remaining four ritual bells are placed in the middle of each of the four sides. As these three bells are counted as one article, the body and the handle have been made to the same specifications. The body gradually becomes wider, and the bottom edges are curved. There are belts on the upper and lower parts of the body and the body overall is simply made. There are demon-eye motif (kimoku) projections on the middle of the handle (that is higher than both sides) and lotus petals pattens can be found above and below this kimoku projections. Outlines of lotus petals are engraved, and these petals are tied in the middle with three strings. These highly stretched kimoku and three strings are common features seen in the late Heian period (794–1185), but features such as engraved outlines of petals and the body shape are also seen in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). Therefore, it is believed that this article was made in the period between the late Heian period and the early Kamakura period. Although the sacred jewels attached to this ritual bell used to have flames, it has been lost.

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