logo
Open today 10 am – 5 pm

Temple Drum

This object is On Display
318415

View All (6) Object Images


318414
318417
318418
318419
Native NameMokugyo
木魚
Object Number:A664A
Current Location: Asia Galleries
Currently On Display
Culture:Japanese
Provenience: Japan
Date Made: 19th Century
Early Date: 1800
Late Date: 1899
Section:Asian
Materials:Wood
Lacquer
Paint
Technique:Carved
Lacquered
Painted
Iconography:Fish
Inscription Language:Japanese Language
Credit Line:Gift of Mrs. Sarah (William D.) Frishmuth, 1900
Other Number:I-213 - Seder Number
LO-1901-1 - Found in Collection Number
85-28-2 - Found in Collection Number

Description

Mokugyo (木魚), wooden lacquered "fish" drum. The long hours of required meditation in Zen temples and monasteries were punctuated by chanting accompanied by striking the Mokugyo. The drum was placed on a large ornamental cushion, flat on one side. It was usualy paired with a large metal bell called a keisu (磬子). The inscription on this drum apears to be a stylized rendering of the characters for "wooden fish".

Current & Past Exhibitions:

Buddhist Asia (21 Oct 2012 - 01 Apr 2022) View Objects in Exhibition
Asia Gallery (02 Apr 2022) View Objects in Exhibition
Four Thousand Years of Music (18 May 1950 - Apr 1958) View Objects in Exhibition
Buddhism: History and Diversity of a Great Tradition (12 Dec 1985 - 21 Oct 2012) View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Catalogue] Possehl, Gregory L., and Ch'eng-mei, Chang, and Peters, Heather A., and Lyons, Elizabeth. 1985. Buddhism: History and Diversity of a Great Tradition.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: 30View Objects related to this Actual Citation

You may also be interested in these objects:


Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.