Ewer (Fusatsugata Suibyō)
Unknown Artist
1200s
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
h. 34.9 cm
Classification
Metalwork
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
James Parmelee Fund
Accession Number
1970.78
About this artwork
Ewers of this particular shape developed in Japan for use in Esoteric Buddhist communities, and are called fusatsu-shaped water pitchers. Unlike the ewers commonly used in rituals celebrated before the Buddha, this type is used for the purifying of monks’ hands with water at the start of a Dharma assembly focused on the recitation of the monastic code of conduct, and repentance for transgressions.