Gheṇṭa (prayer bell)

11th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 684

The bell (dril bu) is the most common musical instrument associated with Tantric Buddhist ritual. Held in the left hand, the dril bu (clapper bell) is always paired with a scepter (dorje), which is held in the right. The scepter symbolizes method, bliss, and male aspects while the bell represents wisdom, emptiness, and the female aspects. Both principles are necessary to achieve Enlightenment. The bell handle traditionally matches in decoration the scepter it is paired with - often with five spokes or points (five representing the five forms of mystical wisdom).

These bells were produced in Java, Indonesia, during the eleventh century. Buddhism flourished in Indonesia at that time, before Islam became dominant in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Gheṇṭa (prayer bell)
Period: Eastern Javanese
Date: 11th century
Geography: Java, Indonesia
Culture: Javanese
Medium: Cast bronze
Dimensions: 5 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 in., 10oz. (14 × 6.4 × 6.4 cm, 283.527g)
Classification: Idiophone-Struck-bell-clapper
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1930
Object Number: 30.87.7
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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Bell, Bronze, Javanese — Bell
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