Title
Ritual Axe, c. 1407-1410. Creator: Unknown.
Caption
Ritual Axe, c. 1407-1410. Ceremonial weaponry was used in tantric rituals to combat obstacles to enlightenment, such as ignorance, delusions, and selfishness. In 1407, a high-ranking Tibetan monastic patriarch visited the emperor of the Ming dynasty, known as Yongle. The Yongle emperor presented him with a number of gifts, of which this ritual axe was probably a component, since the axe bears his identifying inscription in a cartouche. Imperial Chinese workmanship is noted in the lush rendering of the lion heads from which the blades emerge, the calligraphic serpentine forms, and the cloud motifs.
Credit line
Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art
Reference
HRM19G02_139
Model release
NA
Property release
NA
License type
Rights managed
Available size
35,1Mb (1,1Mb) / 8,2in x 16,7in / 2452 x 5000 (300dpi)