Recently, "Forbidden Brahman - Exhibition of Tibetan Buddhist Ritual Instruments in the Palace Museum."
"Opened at the Fujian Shimao Maritime Silk Museum, this exhibition of magic instruments was jointly launched by the Fujian Shimao Maritime Silk Museum and the Palace Museum
127 Tibetan Buddhist dharma vessels
All of them are selected from the Tibetan Buddhist ritual instruments of different materials and different processes collected by the Palace Museum, so that the citizens and friends of Quanzhou can appreciate the beauty of Tibetan Buddhist ritual instruments together and unveil the mystery of Tibetan Buddhist culture in the Qing Palace.
Most of the magic artifacts are hidden in the palace
Dharma instruments are mainly used for religious practice, offerings, solemn dojos, etc. The court of the Qing Dynasty believed in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the Qianlong period, and there were many large and small Buddhist halls built in the palace, and many Buddhist halls still maintain almost complete original furnishings.
Therefore, there are a large number of Tibetan Buddhist cultural relics in the existing collection of the Palace Museum, with many categories and complete types, of which there are tens of thousands of Tibetan Buddhist magic artifacts, which are of great significance to understanding and comprehensively understanding Tibetan Buddhism in the Qing Palace.
Magic artifacts are an important category in the collection of the Palace Museum, most of which are deeply hidden in the palace and rarely exhibited, so they are not known to the outside world.
"After careful consideration and strict screening by the preparatory team, the 127 magic artifacts finalized in this exhibition are all the best works of the Qing Palace, integrating the cultural elements of different ethnic groups such as Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan, and some are also affected by foreign cultural factors, which is not only a witness to the integration and exchange of multi-ethnic cultures, but also an important reflection of Cultural Exchanges between China and foreign countries, fully demonstrating that the broad and profound Chinese civilization has a broad mind of being open and inclusive." Lou Wei, executive vice president of the Palace Museum, introduced.
Through close contact with the national treasures that span a hundred years, the citizens and friends of Quanzhou can feel the luxurious spiritual objects that symbolize wisdom and inspiration and the beauty of the insurmountable Classical Chinese craftsmanship.
127 treasures, 127 stories. This exhibition selects 127 pieces/sets of Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Artifacts and Cultural Relics, which are displayed in three units, the first unit is "Saluting Prayers - Saluting Dharma Instruments", the second unit is "Offerings to the Buddhas - Offering Dharma Instruments", and the third unit is "Practicing the Dharma - Holding the Dharma Instrument". Roughly according to the functional classification of the display, in order to entertain the public.
Unit 1
The first unit is "Salute and Prayer - Ritual Worship Dharma Instrument", which mainly displays the ritual instruments used to worship the Buddha, pray and make wishes, and in the Buddhist hall, in addition to practicing the Dharma and offering the Dharma instruments used by the Buddhas, there are also many ritual instruments for worshiping the Buddhas and praying for the protection of the Buddhas. Among them, there are exhibits from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, such as silver gilded conch (right-handed), Qianlong style filigree enamel mani wheel, gold inlaid turquoise stupa and so on.
Silver gilded inlaid conch (right hand) Qingqianlong
In addition to the meaning of the Dharma conch to promote buddhism and expel demons, the right conch is also regarded as the "lucky auspicious rui" of the wind bead, it is said that the river crosser offers it to the bow of the boat, which can calm the wind and waves of the river and sea. Because the right conch is extremely rare in the world, it is considered to have great auspiciousness wherever it is located. The Qianlong Emperor specially inscribed a poem for the right conch: "The white conch right rotation is the most precious treasure, and the Sanskrit universal has three multiplications." If it is heard like a Sanskrit sound, the group of beings is blessed immeasurably. ”
Qianlong model filigree enamel mani wheel (Qianlong)
The Mani Wheel is a Tibetan Buddhist dharma vessel that is turned once a week to represent the recitation of the sutra. The Qianlong Dynasty of the Qing Dynasty reached its peak of filigree enamel technology, which was characterized by thick carcass, full of gold plating, pure glaze color, and uniform filigree. This mani wheel is a standard Qianlong period court filigree enamel Tibetan Buddhist ritual vessel with dexterous shape, exquisite craftsmanship and exquisite ornamentation.
Gold-inlaid turquoise stupa (Qing)
This golden pagoda is made of 90% gold, with precious materials; all kinds of gemstones are dotted in between, and the decoration is gorgeous; the whole body is made and decorated by techniques such as pounding, engraving, inlaying, etc., which is delicate and exquisite, and is a fine product in the old Tibetan stupas of the Qing Palace.
Unit 2
The second unit, "Offerings to the Buddhas – Offerings to the Dharma", mainly displays the rituals used to offer offerings to the Buddhas during ritual activities, Buddhist ceremonies, and the practice of the Dharma. Various offerings are used to make offerings to the Buddhas and are used on different occasions, representing different meanings. There are filigree enamel da wei de vajra mandala in the Qing dynasty, copper lotus-shaped infinite life Buddha mandala, golden Falun and so on.
Filigree enamel DaweiDe Vajrapani Mandala (Qing)
This mandala is made of filigree enamel craftsmanship, with a large body, complex structure, a wide variety of components, inlaid with various colors of jewelry, and rich in enamel colors, which can be called the finest in enamelware, reflecting the superb craftsmanship level of the court craftsmen. The altar city enshrines the statue of The Great Weed Vajra, which is the Dharma palace of the Great Weed Vajra, called the Great Weed Vajra Mandala, which is mainly used for the practice of the Great Weed Tantric Dharma.
Copper Lotus Shaped Infinite Life Buddha Mandala (Qing)
This unique form of statues, which has appeared in India since the Pala period, has been absorbed and developed by Tibet, and even affected the Han Dynasty, and the most exquisite of these statues in existence is such works in the Ming Yongxuan period. This three-dimensional mandala was figuratively called "blossoming to see the Buddha" in the Qing Dynasty court archives, and it is recorded that the Qianlong Emperor once ordered the office to imitate such statues.
Golden Falun (Qing)
The wheel of Dharma is one of the most common instruments in Tibetan Buddhism. It is either a treasure of the Eight Jewels or can be enshrined separately to represent the Buddha, the authority and solemnity of the Dharma. This wheel of Law is made of 90% gold, in the shape of a flat peach, and is placed on a trumpet-shaped lotus seat. The two sides are symmetrical, with a carved raised seawater curl pattern, and the center of the wheel is embellished with turquoise, bright and bright. The Old Temple of the Heart.
Unit 3
The third unit, "Practicing the Dharma – Holding the Dharma", mainly shows the dharma tools used in practicing the Dharma, holding Buddhist activities and Buddhist rituals. There are many Buddhist halls in the Qing Palace, most of which were built during the Qianlong period, many of which are Tibetan Buddhist Buddhist halls, such as Yuhua Pavilion, Fanhua Pavilion, Sanskrit Pavilion, Yangxin Hall Xi nuange Buddhist Hall and so on. There are Yongle bronze bells from the Ming Dynasty, Silver Gilded Lid Seat Gabala Bowls from the Qing Dynasty, and Copper Gilded Buddha Flowers.
Yongle copper bell (Ming)
The bell and pestle are a set of pairs in a special one-piece shaped leather box, copper gilded material, made by the Ming court, exquisite craftsmanship. Inside the bell box is a white aya sign in the four-body text of Manchu, Han, Mongolian and Tibetan, and the Chinese text is: "Qianlong 45Th, on the sixth day of the first month of December, the Panchen Erdene Gongjin Great Interest Bell Pestle". It can be seen from this that this set of bell pestles should be a birthday gift from the sixth Panchen Lama on the seventieth birthday of Qianlong.
Silver gilded lid seat gabala bowl (Clear)
The Gabala Bowl, also known as the Inner Offering, is a ritual vessel used in Tibetan Buddhism to practice tantra or empowerment, usually in the Temple of the Protector and the meditation room or tantric chamber of the tantric masters and practitioners. Gabala is a Sanskrit transliteration meaning skull, a symbol of great compassion and emptiness. Gabala bowls are generally made from the skulls of those who have cultivated.
Copper gilded Buddha flower (Qing)
The flower offering before the Buddha is one of the important offerings during the practice of manifestation and tantra. Buddhism believes that the flowers of offering can not only emit floral fragrances, but also decorate the environment and make the viewer feel joyful. Those who offer flowers before the Buddha can receive immeasurable merit.
"It is hoped that through this exhibition, Tibetan Buddhist researchers and enthusiasts will have a more comprehensive and systematic study and understanding of the form, nature, function and significance of Tibetan Buddhist magic instruments in the Qing Palace, and at the same time exchange and mutual learning with the local Han Buddhist culture in southern Fujian, and deeply understand the positive role and far-reaching influence played by Buddhist culture in the historical development process of the Chinese nation and the history of the development of ancient Chinese art." Li Zhongmou, director of the Shimao Maritime Silk Road Museum in Fujian Province, introduced.
The exhibition will run until December 29 this year
。 In the future, Shimao Haisi Museum will also bring a richer Forbidden City culture and more precious national treasures to Quanzhou and bring it into the daily cultural life of citizens.
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Pavilion address: No. 299 Shijin Road, Shishi City
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-17:30 (closed on Mondays, open on public holidays)
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Text/Liu Xiaoling
Photo courtesy of Fujian Shimao Maritime Silk Museum
Editor / Xiaoting