Country Group: China, Japan and Korea

Item id: 7719

Bronze Buddhist prayer tablet with prayer on one side and Buddha and dragon on the other. Obtained from a collector friend who had it translated as being from the early 1600's and as being Ming. I just got feedback from a very knowledgeable collector that a scholar friend of his translated the date written on this to be late 6thC, but with the piece having stylistic inconsistencies that raise real doubts that it could be 6thC. For example, the dragon, with hairy tail, is a much later form- Perhaps Ming or Qing. The dragon images before and up through Tang had sort of long thin curly tails with no hair. So the inscription talks about happenings in the 6th century, but the tablet in general appearance and decoration seems much later.

Still, I am certain this is an old and beautiful thing. Measures 5 inches tall, height on custom stand is 7 3/8 inches. Lovely Patina.