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Mirror with Lotus and Mantra

蓮花鏡

1271–1368
(1271-1368)
bronze
Diameter: 22.3 cm (8 3/4 in.); Overall: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.); Rim: 0.7 cm (1/4 in.)
Weight: 787 g (1.74 lbs.)
Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1999.221
Location: 239 Chinese Ceramics and Metalwork
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Did You Know?

A mantra, or meditative statement, is embedded in the petals of the lotus flower on the mirror's back.

Description

This mirror features intricate Buddhist designs. Around the central knob are four leaves, a ring of tiny beads, and then a circle made up of small lotus flower designs. Outside of that are eight big petal shapes, inside each is a Sanskrit letter. The mirror has the phrase "In the name of Om mani padme hum" written in a slightly incorrect form of Sanskrit, possibly because the Chinese mirror maker was not familiar with the language.
Mirror with Lotus and Mantra

Mirror with Lotus and Mantra

1271–1368

China, Yuan dynasty (1271-1368)

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