ticketsMember | Make a donation

Seal with mantra in Vartu script

early 15th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 219
Written in Vartu script, the six characters engraved on the bottom of this seal read "aa-ra-pa-tza-na-dhi," which is a mantra of Manjusri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. First developed in India, Vartu script was adapted from cursive Sanskrit by Tibetan monks for ritual use from the eleventh century onward.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 明早期 象牙鈕鐵鋄金文殊真言印
  • Title: Seal with mantra in Vartu script
  • Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
  • Date: early 15th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Ivory, turquoise, and iron damascened with gold
  • Dimensions: H. 2 in. (5.1 cm); W. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
  • Classification: Ivories
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Gift,1993
  • Object Number: 1993.457
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sutra Covers with the Eight Buddhist Treasures , Red lacquer, incised decoration, gold inlay, China

Sutra Covers with the Eight Buddhist Treasures

China
Wardrobe, Wood (Huanghuali, or Dalbergia odoriferal); metal fittings, China
Wardrobe
China
16th century
Bodhisattva Manjushri, Gilt copper alloy, China
Bodhisattva Manjushri
China
Jar with dragon , Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China

Jar with dragon

China
early 15th century
Jar with carp in lotus pond, Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware), China
Jar with carp in lotus pond
China
mid-16th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.