{"product_id":"antique-extra-large-bronze-japanese-temple-bell","title":"Antique Japanese Suzu Extra Large Bronze Japanese Shinto Temple Bell","description":"\u003cp\u003eAntique Huge Japanese fine quality Bronze Temple Bell. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA fantastic sculptural piece. This Suzu Temple Bell would have originally hung outside a Shinto shrine and is tied to a long rope. It is said that the sound produced when ringing the bell summons a kami (spirit or god) and allows the ringer to acquire positive energy and whilst repelling evil.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey come in all sizes from very small bells which can be hung on charms and trinkets to very large ones like this which hang at shrine entrances. They are filled with small stones or pellets that produce a sound when the bell is rung. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis particular bell is inscribed which gives us a great insight into its history. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn the top half there are two characters that read: \u003cbr\u003e\"Respectfully offered or dedicated\" \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndicating that this has been donated. Which is often the case at Japanese temples and shrines where members of the public buy or pay for particular parts of a temple. If you ever go to Fushimi inari in Kyoto (the famous red tori gate temple) you will see that each tori gate has been donated\/paid for by someone. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn bottom section of the bell a longer inscription reads: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“A lucky day in April, Shōwa 15 (1940).\u003cbr\u003eDonated by Mr. Matsumoto of Umeno-shō, Mihara Village, Mihara District, Hyōgo Prefecture.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eand finally on the very top we have two kanji indicating that this bell was made by:\u003cbr\u003e\"Kiyotoshi\" a foundry in Hyogo Prefecture. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eMeasures approx 33cm tall x 22cm wide\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kanso House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51998673666353,"sku":null,"price":375.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0843\/2399\/1857\/files\/Large_Japanese_Shrine_Bell-9.jpg?v=1762050429","url":"https:\/\/kansohouse.com.au\/products\/antique-extra-large-bronze-japanese-temple-bell","provider":"Kanso House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}