輪宝|Wheel of the Buddhist Law (Rinpō)

Unknown

late 13th century · Gilt bronze · Asian Art

This bronze ritual object connected with Esoteric Buddhism symbolizes the Wheel of the Law (Sanskrit: dharmachakra). In Buddhist texts and rituals, the phrase “turning the wheel of the law” refers to the act of teaching by the Buddha Shakyamuni. Each of the eight spokes and eight corners represents one of the moral admonitions of the Noble Eightfold Path, and the central section depicts a lotus flower with eight petals.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 13th century

Medium

Gilt bronze

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation, 2015