Skull Drum Item Number: Ee4.45 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Double-sided drum made of two human skulls known as thod-rnga (ཐོད་རྔ) and also known as damaru (ཌ་མ་རུ་), but the latter also refers to double-side drums made of different materials. The skulls are placed top to top with each opening covered with skin. A decorative metal band with raised patterning and red and green-coloured round stone-like objects mounted on it covers the joint in the centre. Attached to the metal band is a length of twined string with an egg-shaped, pitch-covered weight at the other end.
History Of Use
Damaru (ཌ་མ་རུ་) or thod-rnga (ཐོད་རྔ) is a ritual object used by practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.
Cultural Context
Human remains in museum collections present a complex, ethical challenge. Objects made from human remains are often removed from their cultural context and have been misidentified or misunderstood, frequently without recognizing the significance they hold in cultures that use human bones for ritual and ceremonial purposes. Ritual objects made both from human and animal bones are a distinctive feature of Tibetan tantric Buddhism. To Tibetans, human bones serve as a reminder of life’s brevity and the inevitability of death. Bones have additional symbolic dimensions. Tibetans view skulls as natural containers that, unshaped by human hands, represent the inherent goodness that reflects the natural state of the mind. Tibetan Buddhists often donated their skulls and bones to monasteries in order to gain spiritual merit after their death.
Item History
- Made in Asia
- Owned by Tradewind Antiques before June 21, 1982
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Tradewind Antiques (Seller) on June 21, 1982
What
- Name
- Skull Drum
- Identification Number
- Ee4.45
- Type of Item
- drum
- Material
- human bone, sheep skin, fibre and metal
- Overall
- height 8.0 cm, width 13.0 cm, depth 11.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Himalayas
- Previous Owner
- Tradewind Antiques
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Tradewind Antiques (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Asia
When
- Ownership Date
- before June 21, 1982
- Acquisition Date
- on June 21, 1982
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 81
- Accession Number
- 0808/0001