Important Cultural Property
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary

Gilt bronze
L 43.3, W 42.2
Kamakura period　13th century-14th century

Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary
  • D011345
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_0
  • D021583
  • 1998/12/11
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_1
  • D021585
  • 1998/12/11
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_2
  • D005385
  • 1992/08/28
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_3
  • D011345
  • 1992/05/22
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_4
  • D011346
  • 1992/05/22
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_5
  • D016921
  • 1982
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_6
  • A025488
  •  
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_7
  • A025491
  •  
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_8
  • A025492
  •  
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_9
  • A025493
  •  
Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary_10
  • A025494
  •  

More

These pendants feature the seed syllable (Skt. bīja; J. shuji) for Dainichi (Skt. Mahāvairocana) enclosed within a ring of connected lotus flowers. They evoke the floral garlands offered to nobility in ancient India, which is in fact the source after which Buddhist pendants (keman) were modeled. These works reflect the striking grandeur of decorative arts from late in the Kamakura period (1185–1333). They come from Hyōzu Taisha Shrine in Shiga.
 
MIMOTO ShusakuEnglish by Mary Lewine 
Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, p.341, no.118. 

Accession Number 1187-0
Category Decorative Arts
Provenance Formerly kept in Hyōzutaisha-shrine, Shiga
Bibliography Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, 354p. Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Nara National Museum: Supplement. Nara National Museum, 1999, 108p. (Japanese) Masterpieces from the Collection of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1997, 350p. (Japanese)

Related Objects

Accession Number Image Object Name/Title
1187-1 Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.1) Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.1)
1187-2 No image Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.2)
1187-3 Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.3) Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.3)
1187-4 Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.4) Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.4)
1187-5 Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.5) Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.5)
1187-6 No image Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.6)
Accession Number 1187-1
Image Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.1)
Object Name/Title Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.1)
Accession Number 1187-2
Image No image
Object Name/Title Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.2)
Accession Number 1187-3
Image Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.3)
Object Name/Title Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.3)
Accession Number 1187-4
Image Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.4)
Object Name/Title Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.4)
Accession Number 1187-5
Image Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.5)
Object Name/Title Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.5)
Accession Number 1187-6
Image No image
Object Name/Title Keman, Pendant Ornament in Buddhist Sanctuary (No.6)

Page Top