326 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.59. 



201. Temple bell (Tibetan, drilbu). — Bronze. On the outer surface 

 near the handle are in relief eight mystic syllables. The handle is 

 cylindrical and has a head, representing the DJiarma (doctrine), sur- 

 mounted by a dorje. The bell is used in the performance of daily 

 services, and the great lamas are often represented with a bell in the 

 hand. This bell was made in Derge, which country is famous for 

 the clear-toned bells cast there. Tibet. (Cat. No. 131011, U.S.N.M.) 



202. Temple bell. — Bronze. Similar to the preceding No. 201, 

 less the head of Dharma on the handle. Monastery of Dolon nor, 

 eastern Mongolia. (Cat. No. 130389, U.S.N.M.) 



203. Vajra. — Bronze. Similar to No. 198. Length, 4£ inches. 

 Japan. (Cat. No. 77137, U.S.N.M.) 



204. Vajra. — Copper. Six-pronged, with one prong in the middle. 

 Crude casting. Length, 6 inches. Shanghai, China. (Cat. No. 

 158311, U.S.N.M.) 



205. Vajra. — Brass. Eight-pronged, with one prong in the middle. 

 Length, 4f inches. Probably China. (Cat. No. 311802, U.S.N.M.) 

 Bequest of Miss Elizabeth S. Stevens. 



206. Vajra-dagger (Tibetan, pliurbu). — Bronze. The three-angular 

 dagger is set into an animal's (elephant's (?)) head. The central 

 portion is in form of a vajra, and the hilt end is terminated by a 

 triple demon's head and surmounted by a horse's head, representing 

 Tamdrin or Hayagriva (for which see above No. 158). It is used in 

 incantation to stab the demons. Length, 7f inches. Tibet. (Plate 

 72, fig. 1, Cat. No. 311803, U.S.N.M.)^ Bequest of Miss Elizabeth S. 

 Stevens. 



207. Tip of a mendicant's alarm staff (liilcila, Tibetan, Tcliargsil). — 

 Consisting of a socketed brass bar with a circular loop on which are 

 strung six jingling rings. It is carried by mendicant monks to drown 

 out by its jingling worldly sounds, and to warn off small animals, lest 

 they be trod upon and killed. Height, 4f inches. Probably Tibet. 

 (Plate 72, fig. 2, Cat. No. 311791, U.S.N.M.) Bequest of Miss Eliz- 

 abeth S. Stevens. 



Prayer wheels. — The prayer wheel (Tibetan, mani clws ~kor) is a 

 cylinder of metal, or, in the larger wheels, of wood or even leather, 

 through which runs an axis prolonged below to form a handle. 

 Around this axis are rolled, one on top of the other, sheets of paper 

 or leaves of a book inscribed with some formula or spell. The sheets 

 are wound on the axis from right to left, and the wheel when set in 

 motion must revolve in the opposite way, so that the writing passes 

 in front of the person turning the wheel in the way in which it is to 

 be read; that is, from left to right. A piece of metal attached by a 

 small chain to one side of the barrel facilitates the turning of it. 

 Each complete revolution of the wheel counts as one repetition of 



