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Buddhist Ritual Bell
1300s
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
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 <em>vajra</em>, or lightning bolt, a powerful and important symbol in esoteric Buddhism, which originated in India, spread across Asia, and was practiced in Korea.
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Details
- Title: Buddhist Ritual Bell
- Date Created: 1300s
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 17.8 x 6.6 cm (7 x 2 5/8 in.)
- Type: Metalwork
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1998.123
- Medium: bronze; with incised designs
- Fun Fact: Called a <em>vajra</em> in Sanskrit, this implement is used in Buddhist rituals meant to destroy ignorance.
- Department: Korean Art
- Culture: Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
- Credit Line: Gift of Mitsuru Tajima
- Collection: Korean Art
- Accession Number: 1998.123
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