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Primary sourceArtifact1407

Ritual Mace Presented by Yongle to a Tibetan Patriarch

1407

A gilt ceremonial mace the Yongle emperor gave as a gift to a high-ranking Tibetan monastic patriarch in 1407.

Yongle commissioned this mace as a diplomatic gift to a Tibetan patriarch, showing his religious diplomacy.

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Photograph of a gilt ritual mace standing upright against a dark grey background. It has a vajra-shaped head at top, a tapering gold shaft with openwork scrolling and dragon-like patterns, and a vajra-style finial at the base.
Ritual mace presented by the Yongle emperor to a Tibetan patriarch, 1407.

About this source

What it is

This gilt ritual mace was part of a set of ceremonial weapons used in Tibetan Buddhist tantric rituals. In 1407 the Yongle emperor presented it, along with other gifts such as an axe, flaying knife, and incense burner, to a high-ranking Tibetan monastic patriarch who visited his court. The mace and a related sculpture bear his identifying inscription.

Why it matters

This gift shows the close relationship between the Ming court and Tibetan Buddhist leaders. It reveals how Yongle used diplomacy and religious patronage, commissioning fine Chinese craftsmanship to honor an important religious figure and strengthen ties between China and Tibet.

Look closer

  • What do the lion-head and dragon motifs tell us about the skill of the craftsmen who made this?
  • Why might an emperor give religious ritual objects as diplomatic gifts?
  • What does this object suggest about relations between the Ming court and Tibetan Buddhism?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Yongle Emperor on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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