Buddhist decorative pendant; gilt-copper temple ornament
A specific Buddhist ritual object: a fan-shaped or circular metal decoration, often gilt copper, hung in temple inner shrines or on altar canopies. Not a general decoration term.
A keman was hung from the canopy in the inner sanctuary.
This keman is said to date from the Kamakura period.
Standard kanji spelling for this Buddhist decorative item.
From Sanskrit kusumamālā (flower garland), via Chinese. Originally referred to a garland of flowers, later applied to the metal pendant used in Buddhist ritual decoration.