MAGNIFICENT ANCIENT GOLD/SILVER BUDDHIST MONK STAFF (03/08/2011)

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MAGNIFICENT ANCIENT GOLD/SILVER BUDDHIST MONK STAFF

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MAGNIFICENT ANCIENT GOLD/SILVER BUDDHIST MONK STAFF

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Sold Date: 03/08/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

MONKS STAFF Please read entire description and history below. This exquisite piece was from a private collector of Chinese artifacts and our family was fortunate enough to acquire and we added it to our collection. It is now time for someone else to add this valuable piece to their collection. Pictures 5,6 and 7 are darker than the others because of different lighting and close up shots. The actual color of those pictures is the same as the other ones. We apologize for that variation.

GOLD PURITY

Gold and silver items from ancient times can be precarious. Sometimes you can see green or rust and other times there may be red spots and/or dark tarnishing. This is because in ancient times the gold and silver a lot of times was not pure, and many, if not most of the time, there was bronze in it. Because of the bronze component there can be rust. Because of the silver there can be tarnishing. Gold can also change its look. The overall appearance will not be shiny and new looking. The chemical reactions of the different materials used, and exposure to the elements, is largely responsible for these changes.

Buddhist monk's staff. Length 77.17 Inches .It is the largest, most beautiful and precious item, not only in Buddhism, but also in human history. The beautiful and exquisite detail on this staff is unmatched in beauty and perfection.

The double circle 12 ring gilded tin staff with gold and silver carvings is a Buddhist cultural relic of the Tang Dynasty. Called “The King of Tin Slaves in the World”, it is the most valuable treasure of Buddhist instruments.

Said to have been once enshrined by Emperor Yizong of the Tang Dynasty, the staff is 1.96 meters long or 77.17” and weighs 2.29 kilograms or 5.3 lbs. The staff body has four circles interlinking 12 rings. There are flower patterns in the middle of the staff, with flowing clouds and lotus flowers on top. The body of the staff is made up of eight-petal lotus flowers, with mass patterns adorning the bottom. The exquisite staff is hollow inside and carved with creeping weed patterns. On top of the staff there are monks of Perfect Enlightenment standing on the lotus flowers with Buddhist bells in their hands. All the monks are extremely lifelike. The bottom of the staff is adorned with grass, cloud and flower patterns. The head of the staff is two double-peach-shaped circles made of crooked silver threads. There is a lotus and flowing cloud base on top of the circles, holding a pearl of wisdom. The four big circles symbolize the four Buddhist gates to the success of Buddhist cultivation and the twelve small rings symbolize twelve sutras.

The base of the staff is crooked in several places. Over the years and because of it being soft it was easily bent. You can also see evidence of tarnishing which has taken place over the years. It is gold, silver and other unknown metals. It is absolutely exquisite and one of a kind.

The exact gold and silver content has not been determined.

To the very best of our knowledge this item is as described and said to be from the time period designated. This was part of a private collection acquired some time ago. The collector was an avid one of Chinese relics and artifacts.

Khakkhara

A khakkhara (English: monk staff, Japanese: 錫杖 , shakuj ō , Mandarin x ī zh� ng , literally "tin stick") is a Buddhist ringed staff used primarily in prayer [1] [2] or as a weapon [3] . The jingling of the staff's rings is used to warn small sentient beings (i.e. insects) to move from the carrier's path and avoid being accidentally trodden on. In ancient times it was used also to scare away dangerous animals. Ringing also is used to alert the faithful that there is a monk within earshot in need of alms. In the Sarv ā stiv ā da vinaya the khakkhara is called the “sounding staff” because of the tinkling sound the rings make.

A khakkhara may have either four rings representing the Four Truths of The Noble One, six rings representing the Six Perfections, or twelve rings representing the tw...