BY.T-21 (previous number) and T-21 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.4737
Description:
White conch shell, with carved floral motif on side and carved rings around base.
Donor:
Estate of G. Eleanore Murray, Estate of Theos C. Bernard, and Theos C. Bernard
Collection place:
Tibet
Verbatim coll. place:
Tibet
Collector:
Theos C. Bernard
Materials:
Conch (shell) and Shell (animal material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Carvings (visual works)
Function:
5.0 Use not specified (Ritual, Pageantry, and Recreation)
Production date:
N/A
Accession date:
March 12, 2004
Context of use:
The date of this object is not specified as such conch shells have been in ritual use in Tibet at least since the introduction of Buddhism there nearly 2000 years ago. The design carved into the shell, however, is not a typical Buddhist motif. A typical Buddhist motif would be an eight spoked Dharma wheel. This is a floral design with eight leaves and is not characteristic of Buddhist iconographic symbolism. This shell could be associated with practices in India, where Hindus also use conch shells for ritual. The value of this type of shell is that it turns to the right, rather than nearly all other sea shells that coil to the left. This kind of conch is one of the "eight auspicious symbols" of Buddhism. A while conch such as this was presented by the King of the Gods, Lord Indra, to Shakyamuni Buddha after the Enlightenment at Bodh-Gaya. The right coiling white conch symbolizes the proclamation of the Dharma. Lord Indra presented it to the Buddha as he requested that Buddha proclaim the Dharma in this world system. To this day, an honored Buddhist teacher is offered such as conch shell by his disciples when they request a formal teaching of the Dharma.