170 BULLETIN 148, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and is called the vase of life. Height, 6)2 inches. Kumbum, Tibet. 

 (Cat. No. 130402, U.S.N.M.) 



328. Libation howl. — Made of a human skull with a lining of iron 

 and an ornamented copper gilt rim fitting on it. The cover of 

 copper gilt is finely and intricately chased and has on each side 

 the mystic syllable Om with an arabesque design surrounding it. 

 The top of the cover is surmounted with four half vajras (dorjes), 

 at right angles, a fifth and larger one forming the handle. The 

 stand on which the skull rests is of gOt copper and triangular in 

 shape. At the three angles are human heads painted red, white, 

 and green. The skull bowl is hkewise used in the worship of 

 Tsepamed, when it is filled with nectar brewed from chang. After 

 the ceremony it is drunk by those present — a kind of a lamaist 

 eucharist. The custom of using skulls as holy vessels, or even as 

 eating bowls, is a very old one in Asia. Height, 9K inches; diameters, 

 8 and &% inches. The specimen in the Museum came from Kum- 

 bum, Tibet. (Cat. No. 130384, U.S.N.M.) 



329. Prayer banners (Chinese, yen-lcou-fo, or tong-hoan). — Consist- 

 ing of five brass figurines holding small suspended banners of cloth. 

 They are set up on the altar during recital of prayers for the souls 

 of the dead, especially for the souls of those who failed to receive 

 burial. Their number probably corresponds to the five earthly 

 {manushi) Buddhas of the present age (kalpa) (see p. 119, note 1). 

 Height, 15^^ inches. Shanghai, China. (Plate 63 (lower), Cat. No. 

 158303, U.S.N.M.) 



330. Pair of prayer wands (Chinese, yen-lcou tsi-tao). — Made of 

 xjopper. Used in reciting prayers for the souls of the dead. They 

 are placed crosswise one over the other. Length, 7% inches. Shang- 

 hai, China. (Cat. No. 158310, U.S.N.M.) 



331. Scent sprinkler. — Made of white metal in form of a long- 

 necked narrow vase. Used at Buddhist funerals. Height, 14^ 

 inches. Ceylon. (Cat. No. 154975, U.S.N.M.) 



332. Temple sword. — On one side of the blade is incised a winding 

 dragon, on the .other a vajra (dorje). The scabbard is red and gilt 

 lacquered, crossed by bands in red and black. The hilt is covered 

 with shark skin and set on either side with bronze dragons. The 

 lower end of the scabbard and the head of the hilt are framed in a 

 marine animal (lobster ?), of bronze. A sword is placed on the altar 

 in front of the celebrant in the worship of Fudo (see above No. 192). 

 .Length, 45 inches. Japan. (Cat. No. 154969, U.S.N.M.) 



333. Temple sword. — On one side of the blade is incised a dragon 

 winding around a vajra (dorje), on the other, a vajra. The scabbard 

 is decorated in cloisonne enamel on a blue ground with rosette? 

 -alternating in pale green and crimson red, with other floral designs 

 between them. The hilt, which is in shape of a vajra, is decorated 



