Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl
Gilt bronze
Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl
JAPAN, Gifu; Nara period
This gilt bronze alms bowl is said to have been a gift from Emperor Shomu (reigned 724–749) for the inauguration of the Buddha statue in Todaiji Temple. The alms bowl measures 14.5 cm high, 27.5 cm in diameter, and weighs 1.6 kg. Instead of being used for begging food, this alms bowl was placed in the Buddha Hall for holding offerings. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1955.
Curving slightly at the rim, the bowl has a round body that tapers towards the narrow, flat base. It is decorated with lions, clouds, floral, and scroll leaf patterns. The rim and lower half feature rings of bead patterns.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 110.
Cite this article:
Hsingyun, et al. "Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl." Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts , vol. 18, 2016, pp. 110.
Hsingyun, Youheng, Youji, Stefanie Pokorski, Mankuang, and Wen Fan. 2016. "Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl" In Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts , 18:110.
Hsingyun, Youheng, Youji, Pokorski, S., Mankuang, & Fan, W.. (2016). Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl. In Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts (Vol. 18, pp. 110).
@misc{Hsingyun2016,
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 110,
title = {{Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 110,
title = {{Gokokushiji Temple: Alms Bowl}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}