The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Buddhist Ritual Bell

Buddhist Ritual Bell

1300s
(918–1392)
bronze; with incised designs
Overall: 17.8 x 6.6 cm (7 x 2 5/8 in.)
Gift of Mitsuru Tajima 1998.123
Location: 236 Korean

Did You Know?

Called a vajra in Sanskrit, this implement is used in Buddhist rituals meant to destroy ignorance.

Description

This Buddhist ritual bell is called the "five-pronged" bell due to the four prongs bending toward a central prong at the end of the handle. This shape is a vajra, or lightning bolt, a powerful and important symbol in esoteric Buddhism, which originated in India, spread across Asia, and was practiced in Korea.
  • Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2003.
    Choi, Eung-chon. “Craftsmen in Metal Arts in the Goryeo Dynasty [고려시대 金屬工藝의 匠人].” Misulsahak yeongu (2004): 171-192. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Choi, Eung-chon. “Metal Arts in the Late Goryeo Period [고려후기의 금속공예].” Kangjwa misulsa (2004): 125-156. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Kim, Eun-ae. "A Study of Repoussé Works of the Goryeo Period [고려시대 타출 공예 연구]." Misulsahak yeongu (2007): 31-72. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Choi, Eung-chon. “The Current Condition and Characteristic of Korean Esoteric Buddhist Ritual Objects of the Goryeo Dynasty in Japanese Collections.” [日本所在 韓國 密敎法具의 현황과 특성]. Silla munhwa (2017): 213-237. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Goryeo: The Glory of Korea [대고려, 그 찬란한 도전]. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2018.
    Ch'a, Mi-rae, Kwi-suk An, Cleveland Museum of Art, and 국외소재문화재재단. The Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Edited by An Min-hŭi. First edition, English ed. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Series, 16. Seoul, Republic of Korea: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 132, no. 94
  • {{cite web|title=Buddhist Ritual Bell|url=false|author=|year=1300s|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1998.123