Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols

Bronze, gilted
H 19.9, H of bell 8.4, D of rim 9.0
Kamakura period　13th century

Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols
  • D021872
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_0
  • D021872
  • 1999/04/06
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_1
  • A025622
  • 1999/04/06
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_2
  • A021496
  • 1987/12/04
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_3
  • A023672
  •  
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_4
  • A023673
  •  
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_5
  • A023674
  •  
Gokorei (Bell with five-pronged handle) with relief of Sanskrit symbols_6
  • A028363
  •  

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The body of the bell has Sanskrit seed characters representing the four bodhisattvas of the Diamond-World (Jpn. Kongōkai) mandala atop a lotus base, and below and above the scrolling floral design that mark the middle ground are bands with a continuous motif of vajras that encircle the bell. Although the seed characters represent the Kongōkai, this piece is an unusual in that it displays the form of seed-character bells of the Womb-World (Taizōkai) that are characterized by their high-level of ornament. 
Object label 

Accession Number 680-0
Category Decorative Arts
Bibliography Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Nara National Museum: Buddhist Implements. Nara National Museum, 1992, 121p. (Japanese)

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