Damaru skull hand-drum with leather case, made in Tibet, Qing dynasty (1644-1912)-China Archive

Image Number: K1D000980N000000000PAC
Dynasty: Qing dynasty
Category: Miscellaneous objects
Function: Dharma instruments and musical instruments
Material: Animal/bone/
Description:
The Zamalu hand drum is the holding object of the Buddhists and practitioners. The drum body is made of two skulls of a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. The drumstick and handle decorations are also made of human bones, while the drum face is made of human skin or monkey skin. If the practitioner is a male, he will hold it with his right hand and make a “sound of great joy”. If he is a female, he will hold his left hand and make a “sound of emptiness” with the help of the Dharma Bell. When shaking the Zamalu, the two drum faces make sounds at the same time, indicating the combination of yin and yang, convenience and wisdom, and proclaiming the dharma nature of non birth and non extinction. The drum face of this hand drum is painted with red and black Falun and Mani beads. The drum body is made of five colored ribbons, and is attached with a lacquer box. The inside of the box is described as “There is a secret collection of Zhangjia Hutuktu drums in Yongning Temple, which are worshipped by generations of Zhangjia Hutuktu who often hold great interests to Zha Malu drums”.