Todaiji Temple: Bell

JAPAN, Nara; Nara period

Cast in 752, this bell measures 386.5 cm high, 270.8 cm in diameter, 23.7 cm thick, and weighs 26.3 t. It was first struck during the consecration ceremony of Vairocana Buddha, also known as the Great Buddha of Nara, and hence it is often referred to as the Bell of the Great Buddha of Nara. It is believed that the bell was cast at the west end of Todaiji Temple’s Golden Hall, where a mold and furnace were discovered in 1991. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1951.
The bell’s crown is 66 cm high and is in the form of a dragon with a large head. There are six suspension rings, 4.5 cm in diameter, on top of the bell. Embossed lines divide the waist of the bell body into three sections. At the top, there are panels with 144 studs, arranged in four rows and nine columns. Eight lotus petals surround the boss. There is no decoration on the shoulder or the edge of the bell.