Important Cultural Property
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)

Cast bronze, Gold plate

Heian period　12th century

Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)
  • D001573
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_0
  • D015262
  • 1996/07/30
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_1
  • D001573
  • 1989/02/21
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_2
  • D001575
  • 1989/02/21
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_3
  • A217099
  • 1996/07/30
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_4
  • A201491
  • 1989/02/21
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_5
  • A201492
  • 1989/02/21
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_6
  • A204047
  •  
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_7
  • A204048
  •  
Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem, Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell and Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell (three of a set of five)_8
  • A204049
  •  

More

These are the surviving three from a set of five ritual bells. In esoteric Buddhism (mikkyō), the bells in a complete set have upper portions with a single-pronged vajra pestle, a three-pronged vajra pestle, a five-pronged vajra pestle, sacred jewels (Skt. cintāmaṇi; J. hōju), and a pagoda. These symbolize the five buddhas (Skt. Pañcatathāgata) of primary importance in the esoteric pantheon, with Dainichi (Skt. Vairocana) at the center.
 
NAITO SakaeEnglish by Mary Lewine 
Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, p.340, no.125. 

Accession Number 1362-0
Category Decorative Arts
Bibliography Buddhist Art Paradise: Jewels of the Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 2021.7, 354p.

Related Objects

Accession Number Image Object Name/Title
1362-1 Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem
1362-2 Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell
1362-3 Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell
Accession Number 1362-1
Image Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem
Object Name/Title Gilt-bronze Bell with Sacred Gem
Accession Number 1362-2
Image Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell
Object Name/Title Gilt-bronze Single Pronged Vajra Bell
Accession Number 1362-3
Image Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell
Object Name/Title Gilt-bronze Three-pronged Vajra Bell

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