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Primary sourceArtifact1407

Sino-Tibetan Ritual Weapons, Derge School, Yongle Period

1407

A set of gilded tantric ritual weapons given by the Yongle Emperor to a Tibetan patriarch in 1407.

The Yongle Emperor gave this set of ritual weapons as a diplomatic gift to a Tibetan patriarch in 1407.

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Photograph of a ceremonial ritual weapon against a dark gray background: a gilded vajra-topped staff with a crescent-shaped steel blade on the right, a gilded spiral-wrapped shaft, and a gilded base.
Ritual weapon, Sino-Tibetan, Derge School, Yongle period, 1407. Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this source

What it is

A gilded ceremonial weapon, part of a set of tantric ritual implements used in Buddhist rituals to symbolically combat ignorance and delusion. It is held at the Cleveland Museum of Art and bears an inscription identifying it as a gift from the Yongle Emperor.

Why it matters

In 1407 a high-ranking Tibetan monastic patriarch visited the Yongle Emperor, who presented him with gifts including these weapons. The fine Chinese workmanship, with lion-head motifs and calligraphic forms, shows how the emperor used luxury objects as tools of diplomacy with Tibetan religious leaders.

Look closer

  • Why might an emperor give ritual religious objects as diplomatic gifts?
  • What do the lion-head and cloud motifs suggest about the craftsmanship behind this object?
  • What does this gift tell you about relations between the Ming court and Tibetan Buddhist leaders?

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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