Ritual Dagger Called Phurbu - Tibet End Of The XIXth - Beginning Of The XXth Century

Text and photosRitual dagger called Phurbu
Tibet
Late 19th - early 20th century
Bronze
H.: 20,5 ; L.: 3,5 cm

This bronze dagger is composed of a short "blade" with three sides and ending in a point. Each side is engraved with a pair of intertwined naga snakes emerging from the mouths of three Garuda. The handle is structured in five registers with vegetal motifs, skulls and three Mahakala faces, all topped by a horse's head.

Phurbu are linked to Buddhist beliefs. Indeed, the three sides of the blade refer to the destruction of ignorance, attachment and aversion but also to the mastery of the three times and the three worlds. These ritual daggers also had the ability to nail demons.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON