Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Ruyis; Rhinoceros horn and ivory; L: 50.3 cm
Todaiji Temple Shosoins: Ruyis (detail)
Rhinoceros horn
Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Ruyis
JAPAN, Nara; Nara period
These ruyis were created in the 8th century during the Nara period and are kept in the Shosoin of Todaiji Temple.
The ruyi on the left has a handle measuring 50.3 cm long. Its head is made from rhinoceros horn and is 5.9 cm wide. It resembles a hand and is inlaid with gold threads. The handle, made of ivory, has an openwork pattern at the top, and the rest of the handle is divided into colored sections and decorated with small pieces of crystal, gold, and pearls. The other end of the handle also has a hand shape, but is smaller.
Also made from rhinoceros horn, the ruyi on the right has a long handle measuring 78 cm, while the head is 17.1 cm wide, which is over one third of the length. The head is colored in red, yellow, and black, and the handle is made from several sections of rhinoceros horn and resembles bamboo.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 346.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 346,
title = {{Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Ruyis}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}