• An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • Crack feature. An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
  • An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.
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antique bronze bell on stand with mallet, buddhist summoning bell, kansho

antique bronze bell on stand with mallet, buddhist summoning bell, kansho

¥58,452 JPY
¥58,452 JPY
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Love Japanese Style Like We Do

An antique bronze kansho, or summoning bell, hanging from a bronze stand with a bronze striking mallet. Made in the Meiji Era this bell was used to call Buddhist monks to prayer at Fukuji temple in Keiishiyama, Gunma Prefecture.

The bell is made of a heavy, greenish cast bronze and is decorated in the characteristic style of Japanese bells. The suspension loop (ryuzo) is formed by two dragon heads and a flame; the upper third contains bosses (nyu), symbols of fertility; and the field below (ikenomachi) is decorated with dragons and Buddhist deities with an engraving of the temple name. The chrysanthemum, a symbol of longevity and happiness, forms the striking surface (shuza).

The kansho bell is in good antique condition with no cracks and has a pleasing high pitched ring tone, reverberating and echoing lingeringly.

The bell is suspended from a vine patterned, bronze circular stand with a wooden base. There is a fine crack in the wooden stand from the center to the edge of the base. (Please see the photo).

The bronze mallet is decorated in the same vine pattern as the suspension stand.

A nice piece of Buddhist art and a great meditation item.

- stand measures 26.5 cm (10.4”) tall x 18.5 cm (7.3”) across x 14 cm (5.5”) deep.
- bell measures 16 cm (6.3”) tall x 10 cm (3.9”) in diameter.
- wooden mallet measures 15 cm (5.9”) long.
- weighs 1,730 gm.

(listing for bell, stand and mallet)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read our shipping policy. 
- we use recycle packaging wherever possible and wrap for safety, rather than appearance!

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

Please message us prior to purchase with any questions you may have about our products.

THE KANSHO OR SUMMONING BELL
The kansho or summoning bell is a small bell that came from China as part of the furniture of the scholar’s nook created in the suke-shoin (a drawing room annex). It usually hung from the ceiling of this room and its long-handled striker hung on the wall nearby, so the master could ring for assistance while still seated. Over time the kansho evolved into its own Japanese form.

A kansho is usually cast of bronze. Like all Buddhist bells, it is cast without a clapper. The outside is decorated with molded or formed details. Its sound is high, sharp and piercing, being considered very yang and bright.

The kansho is used to call monks to prayer, at Buddhist temples. Sometimes larger version of the bell, named hansho and bonsho iare also used.

During a night time tea ceremony a kansho bell is used instead of a dora gong to call the guests back to the tea-room.

BONSHO BELLS
Bonsho bells, are large bells found in Buddhist temples in Japan. They are used to call monks to prayer and to mark periods of time. They are struck from the outside, using either a hand-held mallet or a beam suspended on ropes.

The bells are usually made from cast bronze. They are decorated with a variety of bosses, raised bands and inscriptions. The bells' penetrating and echoing sound carries over considerable distances so they have been used as signals, timekeepers and alarms.

The sound of the bell is thought to have supernatural properties and it is believed that it can be heard in the underworld. This spiritual significance means that they play an important role in Buddhist ceremonies, particularly at New Year and Bon festival time.

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