Standing bell: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Nepalese singing bowl.JPG|thumb|250px|right|A new Nepalese singing bowl]] |
[[Image:Nepalese singing bowl.JPG|thumb|250px|right|A new Nepalese singing bowl]] |
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[[Image:Rin gong at Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Rin gong at [[Kiyomizu-dera]], [[Kyoto]]]] |
[[Image:Rin gong at Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Rin gong at [[Kiyomizu-dera]], [[Kyoto]]]] |
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Singing bowls, also known as Himalayan bowls, cup gongs or (in Japan) rin gongs, are a musical instrument used in [[Buddhist]] meditation, dating back many centuries. They were traditionally found in [[Tibet]], [[Nepal]], [[India]], [[Bhutan]], [[China]], [[Japan]], and [[Korea]] where they were used by [[Buddhist monk]]s and lay people. Today they are enjoyed around the world by meditators, health professionals, and anyone who enjoys their beautiful sound. Singing bowls are used in [[meditation]], [[yoga]], therapy, music, sound healing, and for personal enjoyment. |
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Singing bowls (also known as 'Himalayan bowls', 'bowl bells' or 'cup gongs' or even "rin gongs" in Japan) are a metallic musical instrument, ritual tool and type of [[bell]] or [[gong]] used in [[Vajrayana]] [[Buddhist]], [[Bön]] and derivative spiritual practice. They are traditionally found in [[Tibet]], [[Nepal]], [[India]], [[Bhutan]], [[China]], [[Japan]] and [[Korea]]. The art of making traditional [[Himalaya]]n singing bowls of hammered metallic alloy has been lost since the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the subsequent Tibetan [[diaspora]]. |
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| ⚫ | The instrument is made of metal. Antiques were made of [[bronze]], often of very fine quality alloy. New singing bowls are made from industrial quality metal, mainly copper. They are exported widely from Nepal and India. Singing bowls are also made today in Japan and Korea but are not widely available from those countries. |
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Singing bowls may be played in a number of different ways, e.g.: striking with a soft mallet which produces a warm [[harmonic]] [[resonance]] (or [[formant]]) akin to a bell tone; sounded by rubbing a wooden mallet around the rim of the bowl to produce a continuous 'singing' sound, etc. Singing bowls can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors and share in the [[iconographic]] [[yoni]] symbolism of [[bells]]. |
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Many new singing bowls are made to look antique. Many bowls sold as 'antique' are in fact new. Only a few dealers know how to accurately assess antiques. Many dealers call them 'old,' 'vintage,' or 'antique' without really knowing the true age. Genuine antique singing bowls are rare and are available from only a few suppliers. |
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Singing bowls are used in [[meditation]], trance induction, [[yoga]], [[music therapy]] or [[sound]] [[healing]], music making and for personal enjoyment{{fact}}. |
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Antique singing bowls were made of [[bronze]], an alloy of [[copper]] and [[tin]] that often included precious metals such as [[silver]] and [[gold]]. Many other metals, including [[zinc]], [[iron]], and [[nickel]] may also be present. |
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== Traditional Singing Bowls == |
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Singing bowls are played by striking with a soft mallet. This produces a warm bell tone. They can also be played by slowly rubbing a wooden mallet around the rim of the bowl to produce a continuous 'singing' sound. |
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Traditional singing bowls are made of hammered [[bronze]] (an [[alloy]] of [[copper]] and [[tin]]) and may often consist of more complex alloys that may comprise metals such as [[silver]], [[gold]], [[zinc]], [[iron]] (sometimes meteoric iron) and [[nickel]]. Traditional singing bowls produce [[multiphonic]] and [[polyharmonic]] [[overtones]] and subtle yet complex concurrent [[harmonic]] frequencies ~ a quality of their fabrication of polymetallic alloy. |
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New bowls sound like simple and clear bells while antique singing bowls produce a warm, complex and melodious tone. Antique singing bowls produce multiple [[harmonic]] [[overtones]]. Being made of several metals, they produce several harmonic frequencies at once. |
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Traditional singing bowls contain minimal ornamentation but may display abstract decoration like [[lines]], [[rings]] and [[circles]] (c/f [[mandala]]) [[etched]] into the surface. Some rare singing bowls have markings inside the bowl which are water levels. When these bowls are filled with water to this mark and resonated a fountain may arise in the bowl as a result of the harmonic resonance. The fabrication of traditional singing bowls and the sophisticated precision of traditional fountain bowls is at present widely considered a lost art. |
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The sound of an antique singing bowl is very relaxing and the calming effects of the instrument are widely researched and explored by medical professionals and therapists. The beneficial effects of the subtle harmonic overtones are immediate and dramatic. New singing bowls and crystal bowls do not produce multiple harmonic overtones and do not have the same beneficial effect as do the best antique bronze bowls. |
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== New Singing Bowls == |
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Singing bowls can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors. New bowls are often decorated and made with various religious themes and symbols, like Tibetan mantra chant ''[[om mani padme hum]]'', pictures of the [[Buddha]], mandalas, the eight auspicious signs, etc. Antique singing bowls never feature such complex ornimentation but often have abstract decoration like lines, rings and circles etched into the surface. The making of traditional bowls is now considered a lost art. New bowls are sometimes made to look antique and many dealers unknowingly sell new bowls as antiques. |
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As there are only a finite number of traditional singing bowls and due to their global popularity new singing bowls (which are of cast metallic fabrication) are readily available. Many new singing bowls are made to look antique and may be unwittingly sold and purchased as 'antique' or 'traditional'. New bowls are generally decorated and sport religious [[iconography]] and [[spiritual]] [[motifs]] and [[symbols]], like the Tibetan [[mantra]] ''[[om mani padme hum]]'', [[Vajrayana]] [[deities]], [[mandala]] [[motifs]], [[swastika]] patterning, the [[Ashtamangala]], etc. |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.himalayanbowls.com Information, photos, video, sound clips of antique singing bowls.] |
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== Singing bowl as vehicle for multiphonic trance induction == |
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*[http://video.yahoo.com/video/profile?yid=himalayanbowls Videos about antique singing bowls.] |
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* [http://www.boldersounds.com/MP3_pop.aspx?Sound=134 Tibetan singing bowls MP3 demo] |
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Convergent disciplies of [[neuroanthropology]], [[neurotheology]] and [[cognitive neuroscience]] are conducting research into the [[trance]] [[induction]] of [[altered states of consciousness]] (possibly engendering [[higher consciousness]]} resulting from [[neuron]] firing [[entrainment]] with these [[polyharmonics]] and [[multiphonics]]. Related research has been conducted into neural entraining from [[percussive]] [[polyrhythms]]. The [[timbre]] of traditional singing bowls and their [[polyrhythms]] and [[multiphonics]] are considered meditative and calminative and the harmony inducing effects of this potentially [[consciousness]] alterning [[tool]] are being explored by scientists, medical professionals and therapists. |
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* [http://www.soul-guidance.com/singingbowlsinformation.htm In depth information and instructions on Singing Bowls] |
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*[[William James|James, William]] ''The varieties of religious experience'' (1902) ISBN 0-14-039034-0 |
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*[[Charles Tart|Tart, Charles T.]], editor. ''Altered States of Consciousness'' (1969) ISBN 0-471-84560-4 |
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*[[Charles Tart|Tart, Charles T.]] ''States of Consciousness'' (2001) ISBN 0-595-15196-5 |
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*[[Wier Dennis R|Wier, Dennis R.]] ''Trance: from magic to technology'' (1995) ISBN 1-888428-38-4 |
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== See also == |
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* [[Bell (instrument)]] |
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* [[Brainwave synchronization]] |
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* [[brain waves]] |
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* [[consciousness]] |
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* [[entrainment]] |
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* [[gong]] |
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* [[iconography]] |
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* [[mantra]] |
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* [[music therapy]] |
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* [[Neurotheology]] |
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* [[Neural oscillations]] |
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* [[sound symbolism]] |
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* [[trance]] |
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* [[Upaya]] |
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* [[yoni]] |
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== Further reading == |
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Jansen, Eva Rudy (1992). ''Singing bowls: a practical handbook of instruction and use''. Holland: Binkey Kok Publications. (Refer partial scanning of book on following metalinkage (accessed: 1 December 2006).: http://books.google.com.au/books?vid=ISBN9074597017&id=uY0x3fqbvxwC&pg=PR13&lpg=PR13&ots=x0cd_6rrrs&dq=singing+bowls+books&sig=_C7Fn_0ndUl5kFqfxZ1qQ3k3Puo#PPP1,M1 |
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[[Category:Idiophones]] |
[[Category:Idiophones]] |
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[[Category:Buddhist meditation]] |
[[Category:Buddhist meditation]] |
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[[Category:Buddhist ritual tools]] |
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[[de:Klangschale]] |
[[de:Klangschale]] |
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Revision as of 22:01, 1 December 2006
Singing bowls, also known as Himalayan bowls, cup gongs or (in Japan) rin gongs, are a musical instrument used in Buddhist meditation, dating back many centuries. They were traditionally found in Tibet, Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Japan, and Korea where they were used by Buddhist monks and lay people. Today they are enjoyed around the world by meditators, health professionals, and anyone who enjoys their beautiful sound. Singing bowls are used in meditation, yoga, therapy, music, sound healing, and for personal enjoyment.
The instrument is made of metal. Antiques were made of bronze, often of very fine quality alloy. New singing bowls are made from industrial quality metal, mainly copper. They are exported widely from Nepal and India. Singing bowls are also made today in Japan and Korea but are not widely available from those countries.
Many new singing bowls are made to look antique. Many bowls sold as 'antique' are in fact new. Only a few dealers know how to accurately assess antiques. Many dealers call them 'old,' 'vintage,' or 'antique' without really knowing the true age. Genuine antique singing bowls are rare and are available from only a few suppliers.
Antique singing bowls were made of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin that often included precious metals such as silver and gold. Many other metals, including zinc, iron, and nickel may also be present.
Singing bowls are played by striking with a soft mallet. This produces a warm bell tone. They can also be played by slowly rubbing a wooden mallet around the rim of the bowl to produce a continuous 'singing' sound.
New bowls sound like simple and clear bells while antique singing bowls produce a warm, complex and melodious tone. Antique singing bowls produce multiple harmonic overtones. Being made of several metals, they produce several harmonic frequencies at once.
The sound of an antique singing bowl is very relaxing and the calming effects of the instrument are widely researched and explored by medical professionals and therapists. The beneficial effects of the subtle harmonic overtones are immediate and dramatic. New singing bowls and crystal bowls do not produce multiple harmonic overtones and do not have the same beneficial effect as do the best antique bronze bowls.
Singing bowls can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors. New bowls are often decorated and made with various religious themes and symbols, like Tibetan mantra chant om mani padme hum, pictures of the Buddha, mandalas, the eight auspicious signs, etc. Antique singing bowls never feature such complex ornimentation but often have abstract decoration like lines, rings and circles etched into the surface. The making of traditional bowls is now considered a lost art. New bowls are sometimes made to look antique and many dealers unknowingly sell new bowls as antiques.