â–¡ A CUP GONG (DOBACHI), JAPAN, 7TH CENTURY OR LATER

beaten copper alloy, of bowl shaped form, the lower sides with stippled decoration in low relief, inscribed around upper edge in Japanese, together with later lacquer stand and leather lined turned wood beater 27cm high, 40cm wide approx. The inscription has been read: 'Tenmu, second year, first month (ie. 674 A.D.), Honsho Temple Offering'.

The Dobachi, also known as Kin or Keisu, is used by the head priest in Buddhist ritual to mark important parts of the ceremony. There is a closely related example in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. no. 89.4.1540. For an illustration of a priest striking a cup gong during 'Hoyo' (a Buddhist ceremony), see Kishibe Shigeo, 'The Traditional Music of Japan', Tokyo 1969, fig. 40. For further information see also F. T. Piggott, 'The Music and Musical Instruments of Japan', London 1893, p.206f and pl.XVII and William P. Malm, 'Japanese Music and Instruments', Rutland VT, 1990, pp.68-69.