BY.T-30 (previous number) and T-30 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.4737
Description:
Scepter, symbolic device used by Tibetan monks, especially of the Gelukpa order.
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:
Silver (metal)
Object type:
ethnography
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Production date:
19th century
Accession date:
March 12, 2004
Context of use:
The scepter symbolizes Manjushri's sword of wisdom, with a symbolic monk's bowl at the end of the hilt. The blade is engraved with images of Manjushri's flaming sword of wisdom, his volume of wisdom texts, a lotus, a vajra and a conch. The alms bowl allows the monk to uphold the Buddhist tradition of carrying an alms bowl even in societies where monks do not typically go on daily rounds to receive alms from the faithful.This scepter is tucked into the sash at the front of the monk's robe. The ceremonial canteen (9-21899) is then suspended by its cord from the scepter. Other monks would tuck the pen case (9-21929) into their sash rather than this type of scepter, and hang the canteen from that.
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Comment:
Like many items in the collection, this scepter has candle wax all over it. It was apparently used as a candle flame snuffer--the small alms bowl is now black with soot and thick with wax. This is probably something that happened outside of Tibet, as wax candles were not used there, and this item would never be use except for the purposes described above.