China
Chinese Buddhism

Ox horn
19th century
Dimension: 65 x 60 x 40(mm) 2.56 x 2.36 x 1.57 (inches)
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Bells

A Chinese handcarved ox horn Buddhism prayer bell/tool, along with beater.  This prayer bell represents Acala or Acalanātha (Fudo-Myo in Japan), the immovable wisdom king who serves as the ferocious protector of Dharma (a set of virtues and personal behaviors considered righteous in multiple Easter religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and others.)

Features include a face that is fairly square, opened eyes, displayed teeth, projecting eyebrows and a furrowed forehead. The ears are also intricately carved, and in the relief, it appears that there is red residue. The head is hollow at the top (bell) with a slat that comes down horizontally to a hole on either side for storage of the mallet, also made of ox horn.  The back of the head displays low incised curves and there is evidence of much usage, but no cracks.