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Source Description
Called a vajra in Sanskrit, a pestle of this kind is an Esoteric Buddhist ritual implement derived from the thunderbolt held by the Indian Vedic god Indra. The round forms along the center of the handle, known as demon eyes, are rather compressed in this example, and the lotus petal shapes near the prongs are quite sharply delineated.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
147911
label
Three-pronged Vajra Pestle (Sankosho)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
147911
contentType
object
title
Three-pronged Vajra Pestle (Sankosho)
description
Called a vajra in Sanskrit, a pestle of this kind is an Esoteric Buddhist ritual implement derived from the thunderbolt held by the Indian Vedic god Indra. The round forms along the center of the handle, known as demon eyes, are rather compressed in this example, and the lotus petal shapes near the prongs are quite sharply delineated.
date
early 1300s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60758402
genreSpecific
Metalwork
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 17.5 x 5 cm (6 7/8 x 1 15/16 in.)
cul
Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333)
accession
1974.264
Source extras
tec
gilt bronze
tombstone
Three-pronged Vajra Pestle (Sankosho), early 1300s. Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333). Gilt bronze; overall: 17.5 x 5 cm (6 7/8 x 1 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Dr. Richard G. Paley, 1974.264
collection
Japanese Art
didYouKnow
The vajra is said to tear through ignorance like a powerful thunderbolt.
creditline
Gift of Dr. Richard G. Paley
updatedAt
2026-05-29 07:35:28.848000
sourceId
147911
dept
Japanese Art
coll
Japanese Art
med
gilt bronze
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
4e7556b71357060b