木质金刚橛

WOODEN VAJRA DAGGER

清（公元１６４４-１９１１）

长３０-２０、宽６-３·５厘米 LENGTH ３０-２０CM WIDTH ６-３·５CM

收藏单位：布达拉宫管理处POTALA PALACE COLLECTION

金刚橛原来是古印度的一种兵器，后来被密宗吸收为法器。金刚橛又叫四方橛，修法时竖立在坛的四周，使坛场坚固如金刚，不为各种妖魔所侵害。它的基本造型是三角形的匕首，但把柄上的装饰差别很大。这组金刚橛的把柄上，根据用途的不同，分别装饰了护法神和狗头、狮子头、鹿头、马头、山羊头等等，其上施以彩绘，色彩丰富，造型多样，这样成组的金刚橛在以往的图录中很少见。

A VAJRA DAGGER WAS ORIGINALLY A KIND OF WEAPON IN ANCIENT INDIA AND WAS LATER ACCEPTED AS A RELIGIOUS ATTRIBUTE BY ESOTERIC BUDDHISM 。THE VAJRA DAGGER IS ALSO CALLED VAJRA OF FOUR DIRECTIONS FROM ENTERING DURING A BUDDHIST SERVICE 。THE BASIC FORM OF A VAJRA DAGGER IS THE TRIANGULAR ARE ADORNED WITH IMAGES OF PROTECTOR DEITIES AND HEADS OF DOG 。LION ，DEER，HORSE AND GOAT FOR DIFFERENT USES AND THEY ARE POLYCHROMED WITH BRIGHT COLOURS 。THIS GROUPED VAJRA DRAGGERS ARE VERY SELDOM SEEN IN THE CATALOGUES EVER PUBLISHED