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Buddhist Ritual Bell

청동 금강령 (靑銅金剛鈴)

1300s

Korea, Goryeo dynasty

(918–1392)
Medium
bronze; with incised designs
Measurements
Overall: 17.8 x 6.6 cm (7 x 2 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mitsuru Tajima 1998.123
Public Domain
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Location
236 Korean
Print
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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.
Bronze, Buddhist ritual bell, with a ribbed bell, like a cylindrical pumpkin, narrowing to a shaft at the end of which four, lightning-shaped prongs curve around a central prong. The bell is highly corroded in green, details obscured. Within each section of the ribbed bell stands a stylized person with a blocky body. Wavy patterns run along the bell's upper and lower borders and rows of petal-like shapes up the shaft.

Buddhist Ritual Bell

1300s

Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

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