Nikko Sho
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Metal, wood
Dimensions
Diam. of gong: 7.6 cm (3 in.); Height of frame: 30.5 cm (12 in.); Width: 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.) Length of beater: 12 in.
Classification
Idiophone-Struck-gong
Culture
Japanese
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.82
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, the *Nikkō Shō* is a delicate 19th-century Japanese struck gong, exemplifying the exquisite craftsmanship of Edo-period artisans. Crafted from metal for the resonant gong—measuring just 7.6 cm (3 in.) in diameter—and framed in wood standing 30.5 cm (12 in.) tall, with a 12-inch beater, this idiophone produces a clear, piercing tone when struck. Its compact size made it portable and versatile for both ritual and performance settings. In Japanese culture, gongs like the *Nikkō Shō* held profound signific...