Finial of Buddhist priest's staff (shakujo)
Object Details
- Label
- Originally used by itinerant Buddhist priests to climb steep paths and to signal their presence by the sound of attached rings, the staff (shakujo) evolved to become a ritual implement with greater symbolic than practical significance. The wide, ornamental head of a staff was attached to a long pole of iron or wood. This example contains symbols from Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyo), including stupas (relic monuments) at the center and disks representing the sun and moon at upper left and right.
- Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art Collection
- Exhibition History
- Spreading the Word (May 18 to November 12, 2018)
- Buddhist Art (May 9, 1993 to August 9, 2011)
- Japanese Art (March 12, 1982 to November 3, 1986)
- Japanese Art (June 16, 1982 to September 28, 1982)
- Japanese Art (February 15, 1981 to March 3, 1981)
- A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)
- Credit Line
- Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
- 1185-1333
- Period
- Kamakura period
- Accession Number
- F1974.15
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Ceremonial Object
- Medium
- Bronze, wood
- Dimensions
- H (overall): 45.4 cm (17 7/8 in)
- Origin
- Japan
- Related Online Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- See more items in
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
- Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
- Topic
- casting
- metal
- bronze
- Buddhism
- Kamakura period (1185 - 1333)
- Japan
- monk
- priest
- Japanese Art
- Record ID
- fsg_F1974.15
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye37107ed55-7c6d-412c-8d2c-e37faca447c4
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.