Nepalese melong Dharma Wheel and Endless Knot 53 millimeters

Beautifully decorated Nepalese melong with Buddhist symbolism on both sides. This melong is made of two thin, slighly convex plates of red copper, connected together at the edges, thus leaving a hollow space between them (which makes for a lightweight melong). The red copper is goldpainted all over and further decorated with red and green cloisonne accents on the frontside.

This melong has a diameter of 53 millimeters (measured without the eyelet) and weighs 28 grams. On both sides a depiction of one of the Tibetan Buddhist Eight Auspicious Symbols can be seen; the Endless Knot on the backside and the Dharma Wheel on the front.

The symbol of the Endless Knot can be found in many traditions and cultures all over the world. The oldest images of the Endless Knot can be traced back to 2500 BC. In different traditions it might represent slightly different things. In Tibetan Buddhism, the famous symbol is associated with multiple concepts such as: the union and interaction between here and now and eternity, between compassion and wisdom, between religious doctrine and secular life. It symbolizes principles like karma, reincarnation, enlightenment, transformation, harmony and the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. 

The Wheel of Dharma is a representation of the teachings of Buddha. Its circular shape signifies the completeness and perfection of the teachings, with each part holding a special meaning and reflecting key aspects of Buddhism.

In different Buddhist schools the symbolism of the wheel is explained a little bit different, with each tradition highlighting its own keypoints and offering its own unique perspectives on it. But overall it can be said that the Wheel of Dharma represents the Buddha’s teachings about Samsara (the cycle of life, death and rebirth) and the possibility of liberation from this cycle by following the Noble Eightfold Path (represented by the 8 spokes of the wheel). The symbol of the Wheel serves as a reminder to live a life filled with wisdom and compassion.