Densho (Temple Bell)

COLLECTION NAME:

The AMICA Library

mediaCollectionId

AMICO~1~1

The AMICA Library

Collection

true

AMICA ID:

MMA_.89.4.1803

amicoid

MMA_.89.4.1803

AMICA ID

false

AMICA Library Year:

2000

aly

2000

AMICA Library Year

false

Object Type:

Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects

oty

Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects

Object Type

false

Creator Nationality:

Asian; Far East Asian; Japanese

crc

Asian; Far East Asian; Japanese

Creator Nationality

false

Creator Name-CRT:

Japanese

crt

Japanese

Creator Name-CRT

false

Title:

Densho (Temple Bell)

otn

Densho (Temple Bell)

Title

false

Title Type:

Object name

ott

Object name

Title Type

false

View:

Full View

rid

Full View

View

false

Creation Date:

19th century

oct

19th century

Creation Date

false

Creation Start Date:

1800

ocs

1800

Creation Start Date

false

Creation End Date:

1899

oce

1899

Creation End Date

false

Materials and Techniques:

Bronze

omd

Bronze

Materials and Techniques

false

Classification Term:

Idiophone/bell/clapperless

clt

Idiophone/bell/clapperless

Classification Term

false

Dimensions:

H. 27 in. (68.6 cm); Diam. 15 in. (38.2 cm)

met

H. 27 in. (68.6 cm); Diam. 15 in. (38.2 cm)

Dimensions

false

AMICA Contributor:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

oon

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

AMICA Contributor

false

Owner Location:

New York, New York, USA

oop

New York, New York, USA

Owner Location

false

ID Number:

89.4.1803

ooa

89.4.1803

ID Number

false

Credit Line:

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889

ooc

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889

Credit Line

false

Rights:

http://www.metmuseum.org/

orl

<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/"target="_new">http://www.metmuseum.org/</a>

Rights

false

Context:

In Japanese ceremonies, suspended cast-iron bells are used for signaling during prayer and for calling Buddhists to worship. The densho, or hansho, incorporates many symbolic motifs found in the Far East. The suspension loop (ryuzo) is formed by two dragon heads and a flame; the upper third contains nipples (nyu), a symbol of fertility, and the barren field below (ikenomachi) provides a place for poetry or iconography. The chrysanthemums, a symbol of longevity and happiness, form the striking surface (shuza). This densho, intended for trade, has an additional element-a dramatic confrontation between dragon and eagle-that is atypical. The densho is occasionally heard in the kabuki theater's off-stage ensembles.

cxd

<P>In Japanese ceremonies, suspended cast-iron bells are used for signaling during prayer and for calling Buddhists to worship. The densho, or hansho, incorporates many symbolic motifs found in the Far East. The suspension loop (ryuzo) is formed by two dragon heads and a flame; the upper third contains nipples (nyu), a symbol of fertility, and the barren field below (ikenomachi) provides a place for poetry or iconography. The chrysanthemums, a symbol of longevity and happiness, form the striking surface (shuza). This densho, intended for trade, has an additional element-a dramatic confrontation between dragon and eagle-that is atypical. The densho is occasionally heard in the kabuki theater's off-stage ensembles.</P>

Context

false

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Densho (Temple Bell)