Unknown
Ritual Dagger17th century or earlier

On view:

Resnick Pavilion, floor 1

Gilt metal and rock crystal ritual dagger with a translucent pointed blade, animal-head collar, and stacked lotus and scroll handle topped by a round finial

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Ritual Dagger
Culture: Eastern Derge or China
Place Made: Eastern Tibet, Kham region, Derge
Date Made: 17th century or earlier
Medium: Gilt copper alloy and rock crystal
Dimensions: 8 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (20.32 x 3.81 x 3.81 cm)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by Anna Bing Arnold
Accession Number: M.79.243.3
Classification: Arms and Armor
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: This Ritual Dagger (phurpa or kila), and its set mates of a Ritual Flaying Knife (kartrika; M.79.243.1) and Ritual Axe (parashu; M.79.243.2), are from a set of initiation utensils likely used in ritual meditation on Vajrabhairava (Adamantine Anger). Vajrabhairava has thirty-two arms that carry many implements and attributes. The practitioner must visualize each ritual object and its specific Tantric symbolism. Usually, the officiating priest lifts such implements at the time they are invoked as a part of a ceremony to protect against negative forces. Full sets of ritual implements were often offered to teachers from wealthy patrons and disciples.

The Ritual Dagger is a three-sided peg-like implement that is used in diverse rites ranging from exorcism to meditation to blessings. The rock crystal blade is attached to the hilt by means of a clasp embellished with a row of grinning skulls. It appears to be issuing out of the mouth of a mythical aquatic animal (makara). The grip of abutting lotus pedals has twin borders in the form of the knot of immutability. A lotus bud serves as the pommel. See also M.78.45, M.82.27, M.85.286.1, and M.86.190.2.
Selected Bibliography: Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Los Angeles; Berkeley, CA: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1983.
Maxwell, Gail. Visual Art for Meditation: Resource Book. Los Angeles: Museum Associates/Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2005.
Pal, Pratapaditya. "Art and Ritual in Buddhism." Asian Art vol. II, no. 3 (Summer 1989): 33-55.
Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Expanded edition. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990.
Huntington, John C. and Dina Bangdel. The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art. Columbus: The Columbus Museum of Art; Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2003.
Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
Little, Stephen, and Tushara Bindu Gude. Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art across Asia. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2025.
Selected Exhibition History: Ritual Offerings in Tibetan Art. Saturday, September 13, 2014 - Sunday, October 25, 2015

Related Exhibitions

Unknown
Ritual Dagger17th century or earlier

On view:

Resnick Pavilion, floor 1

Artist or Maker: Unknown
Title: Ritual Dagger
Culture: Eastern Derge or China
Place Made: Eastern Tibet, Kham region, Derge
Date Made: 17th century or earlier
Medium: Gilt copper alloy and rock crystal
Dimensions: 8 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. (20.32 x 3.81 x 3.81 cm)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by Anna Bing Arnold
Accession Number: M.79.243.3
Classification: Arms and Armor
Collecting Area: South and Southeast Asian Art
Curatorial Notes: This Ritual Dagger (phurpa or kila), and its set mates of a Ritual Flaying Knife (kartrika; M.79.243.1) and Ritual Axe (parashu; M.79.243.2), are from a set of initiation utensils likely used in ritual meditation on Vajrabhairava (Adamantine Anger). Vajrabhairava has thirty-two arms that carry many implements and attributes. The practitioner must visualize each ritual object and its specific Tantric symbolism. Usually, the officiating priest lifts such implements at the time they are invoked as a part of a ceremony to protect against negative forces. Full sets of ritual implements were often offered to teachers from wealthy patrons and disciples.

The Ritual Dagger is a three-sided peg-like implement that is used in diverse rites ranging from exorcism to meditation to blessings. The rock crystal blade is attached to the hilt by means of a clasp embellished with a row of grinning skulls. It appears to be issuing out of the mouth of a mythical aquatic animal (makara). The grip of abutting lotus pedals has twin borders in the form of the knot of immutability. A lotus bud serves as the pommel. See also M.78.45, M.82.27, M.85.286.1, and M.86.190.2.
Selected Bibliography: Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Los Angeles; Berkeley, CA: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1983.
Maxwell, Gail. Visual Art for Meditation: Resource Book. Los Angeles: Museum Associates/Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2005.
Pal, Pratapaditya. "Art and Ritual in Buddhism." Asian Art vol. II, no. 3 (Summer 1989): 33-55.
Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Tibet. Expanded edition. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1990.
Huntington, John C. and Dina Bangdel. The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art. Columbus: The Columbus Museum of Art; Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2003.
Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
Little, Stephen, and Tushara Bindu Gude. Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art across Asia. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2025.
Selected Exhibition History: Ritual Offerings in Tibetan Art. Saturday, September 13, 2014 - Sunday, October 25, 2015