Today, it’s our pleasure to share a “Five-pronged bell” with you. Five-pronged bells are a type of Varja bell, ritual implements used in Esoteric Buddhism that can be shaken and rung to startle and delight various buddhas, bodhisattvas, deities, etc. The bell portion of this work is cupronickel. The pestle is gilt bronze and was constructed separately. It only retains hints of gilt here and there. Most likely the entire work was originally gilded. An example of this type of separate casting would be the five-pronged bell handed down through the ages at Saidaiji Temple in Nara and which is stylistically representative of works from the end of the Kamukura period to Nanbokuchō period. Please enjoy.
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