Bowl

The term “sanne ippatsu” refers to the few possessions that a monk is allowed to have. “Sanne” refers to three types of robes, while “ippatsu” refers to a single bowl. This bowl was essential because it was used for religious training in which monks recited sutras and received offerings of food. This is an unusually large example of one such bowl. However, rather than personal use, it appears to have been used to make offerings of food to Buddhist gods. Rules specify that monks should have ceramic or iron bowls, but this one is made of gilt bronze, making it too lavish for a monk but appropriate for ritual offerings. The bowl tapers toward the base and cannot stand on its own, so it was placed on a stand, which was passed down through the ages together with the bowl.

The bowl's large size and high level of craftsmanship are unusual for Nara-period metalwork. This, together with the fact that the bowl is still accompanied by its original stand, makes it an object of great significance. Buddhist monks were expected to carry bowls like this, which they used when eating or presenting offerings to Buddhist gods. Judging from the size and gold decoration of this bowl, it was likely used for offerings. Many bowls of this shape have survived from the 700s.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.