Copper vase of Shipporyuji Temple
This cast bronze bowl with lid is engraved with an inscription stating “Koan 2” (the year 1279). It is believed to have been a Buddhist ritual implement used for hokke-e (the Lotus Sutra ritual).
With a height of 17.7 cm, this vase is made of cast copper and has a lid. There are small inscriptions on the side indicating Todaiji Temple, Hokke Sanmai-in, Aka kibachi and March 1279. The vase is considered to have been a Buddhist altar article produced in 1279 for hokke-e (Lotus Sutra ritual) meetings in Sanmai-do Hall, which was erected in 1021. An Aka (holy water) bachi (vase) was a vessel to be offered before a Buddhist altar. It is believed that the origin of this was a vessel filled with water to be offered before Buddhist statues by Roben (the first head priest of Todaiji Temple) for a hokke-e meeting in 745. There are few other small copper vases that are similar to the one in this temple.
