332 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.59. 



animals which might be found in the water from being killed; (2) a 

 drum; (3) sandals; (4) steel and flint for striking fire; (5) vessel for 

 pouring out water when performing acts of merit; (6) a shaving 

 knife. Height, lOf inches; diameter, 9£ inches. Laos, Further 

 India. (Cat. No. 217664, U.S.N.M.) 



235. Buddhist monk's begging bowl.- — Old bronze, decorated with 

 groups of rosette-shaped dots. Height, 4 inches; diameter, 8 inches. 

 Japan. (Plate 74, Cat. No. 158321, U.S.N.M.) 



236. Buddhist monk's begging bowl. — Earthenware, black lacquered. 

 Height, 7 inches; diameter, 9 inches. Burma. (Cat. No. 129555, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



237. Buddhist monk's rice spoon. — Made of shell. Rice and fruit 

 constitute the diet of Buddhist priests. They obtain these viands 

 by begging from house to house, and an alms bowl, rice spoon, and 

 fruit bag belong to the equipment of a Buddhist priest. They are 

 bound to abstain from meat and intoxicating liquors, and from par- 

 taking of any food after midday. Length, 6 inches. Siam. (Plate 

 75, fig. 1, Cat. No. 127163, U.S.N.M.) 



238. Buddhist monk's rice spoon. — Made of alabaster. Length, 4 

 inches. Tokio, Japan. (Plate 75, fig. 2, Cat. No. 127552, U.S.N.M.) 



239. Flyjiap. — Lacquered and gilt. The feathers are arranged in 

 shape of a heart. "It is properly a screen, and is never used as a fan 

 but to cover the face when presenting the alms bowl for alms so that 

 the monk may receive the gift without knowing the giver. The 

 Buddhist believes it is more blessed to give than to receive, and the 

 merit belongs to the giver." Length, 26 inches; width, 14 inches. 

 Laos, Further India. (Cat. No. 217665, U.S.N.M.) 



2. RELIGIOUS EDIFICES AND THEIR PARAPHERNALIA. 



240. The Wat Chang pagoda.— Model of wood, painted. Pagodas 

 (the Burmese name for these structures; Singhalese, dagaba or 

 dagoba; Sanskrit, stupa; Pali, thupo, whence Anglo-Indian tope; Nep- 

 alese, chaitya; Tibetan, chorten; Chinese, tah; Japanese, to) are relig- 

 ious structures the original purpose of which was to receive the relics 

 of Buddha, or the remains of such of his disciples as distinguished 

 themselves by piety or learning. But already in the early periods of 

 Buddhism stupas were constructed ex voto, either for marking some 

 important event in the life of Buddha and the history of Buddhism, 

 or for decorating the monasteries and temples. In keeping with the 

 original purpose of the pagoda, its earliest architectural style was 

 derived from the tomb or tumulus. The earliest stupas are simple 

 cupolas or hemispheres raised on a low basement, about half the 

 diameter in height. With the exception of a small cell for the ashes 

 or relics, these shrines were solid masses of bricks or stone. Grad- 

 ually the plinth was increased until it rose from one to two diameters 



