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Western-style bell with Hosokawa nine-planet family crest, approx. 1602
Japan, Momoyama period (1573–1615)
Cast bronze
Eisei-Bunko Museum, 7271
© Eisei Bunko, Japan.

The Hosokawa family believes that this bell, with its nine-planet crests, was cast for Hosokawa Sansai (1563–1645), in honor of his wife, Hosokawa Gracia (1563–1600), one of Japan’s early Christians. Tadaoki apparently intended to present the bell to a church located near his castle, but when the shogun banned Christianity the church was destroyed. Its whereabouts unknown for centuries, the bell was discovered hidden in a castle turret.

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