Item Type: Tibetan Antique Accessories
Style: Tibetan
Dimensions: Height: 0.59 in (1.5 cm) Width: 1.77 in (4.5 cm) Depth: 6.49 in (16.5 cm)
Materials and Techniques: Lima Copper
Place of Origin: Ganden Monastery
Period: Qing Dynasty
Condition: Good
Qing Dynasty Tibetan-style portable ritual implement made of Lima copper depicting Vajra, the Buddhist deity, subduing demons. This ritual implement exhibits sharp edges, rigid and sharp lines, and a powerful and majestic presence. Its substantial weight when held in hand signifies its solid construction, crafted from Lima copper and boasting impeccable quality. Such finely crafted and large-sized Vajra hooks are extremely rare, likely used by Tibetan Buddhist masters in their spiritual practices, possessing significant artistic and religious value.
The origin of the Vajra hook dates back to the early days of Vajrayana Buddhism, with its practices and mantras documented in tantric scriptures. The Vajra hook is mentioned in the Tangmi scripture 'The Birth of Thirty-seven Vajra Yoginis,' which states: 'All beings who follow the path of the Six Perfections will, from within the realm of the Tathagata's essence, generate the four Bodhisattvas: Vajra Hooks, Vajra Ropes, Vajra Locks, and Vajra Bells, who can summon, attract, firmly hold, and delight.' The seat of the four Bodhisattvas is located at the four gates of the stupa in the Vajra realm mandala, symbolizing their residence within the self-realized virtues and their manifestation to benefit others. Among the four Bodhisattvas, the Vajra Hook Bodhisattva, known as Vajra-nkusah (Tibetan: Rdo-rje lcags-kyu), resides at the first gate of the mandala, known for his steadfast and sharp bodhichitta, which leads sentient beings away from the realms of suffering, akin to a fisherman using a hook to catch fish. He is responsible for gathering the virtues of sentient beings and summoning all the enlightened beings to the gathering, signifying the accumulation of sentient beings' virtues.
The Vajra hook features a circular hanging loop at the top, followed by the guardians on both sides, then the cemetery, and finally the Vajra hook at the bottom. The overall craftsmanship is exquisite, with a thick patina, and it bears the appropriate age. This piece is passed down from the Ganden Monastery, demonstrating exceptional lineage.
