Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Bonshō

Bonshō

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of the TFAR nomination of the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add   to the top of the discussion and   at the bottom, then complete a new TFAR nom underneath.

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/November 4, 2014 by BencherliteTalk 20:06, 20 October 2014 (UTC)



Bonshō are large bells found in Buddhist temples throughout Japan, used to summon the monks to prayer and to demarcate periods of time. Rather than containing a clapper, bonshō are struck from the outside, using either a hand-held mallet or a beam suspended on ropes. The bells are usually made from bronze, typically augmented and ornamented with a variety of bosses, raised bands, and inscriptions. The earliest of these bells in Japan date to around 600 CE, although the general design is of much earlier Chinese origin. The bells' penetrating and pervasive tone carries over considerable distances, which led to their use as signals, timekeepers, and alarms. In addition, the sound of the bell is thought to have supernatural properties; it is believed, for example, that it can be heard in the underworld. The spiritual significance of bonshō means that they play an important role in Buddhist ceremonies, particularly the New Year and Bon festivals. Throughout Japanese history, a number of these bells have become associated with stories, such as the Benkei Bell of Mii-dera, and the historical, such as the bell of Hōkō-ji. In modern times, bonshō have become symbols of world peace.
 * Most recent similar article(s): don't remember anything like this
 * Main editors: Yunshui and team. I know the blurb is slightly too long but trust that they know better what to prune,
 * Promoted: 2014
 * Reasons for nomination: unusual, symbol of peace, user's first
 * Support as nominator. Gerda Arendt (talk) 13:47, 13 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support super cool topic, rare religious themed article (and one that isn't a biography). --Harizotoh9 (talk) 18:01, 13 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Also non-Western, which helps majorly with WP:BIAS. --Harizotoh9 (talk) 18:03, 13 October 2014 (UTC)
 * A word of caution: Japan isn't really under-represented at all if video game/anime/manga articles count. Tezero (talk) 05:08, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Current character count is 1325. Should be trimmed to 1200. --Harizotoh9 (talk) 19:18, 13 October 2014 (UTC)
 * This is done; now trimmed to 1199. Prhartcom (talk) 14:16, 15 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Support. I recognise and trust the editors who contributed to this interesting article. Prhartcom (talk) 14:16, 15 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support, regardless of any systemic bias issues that may or may not be present. It's an interesting topic and I don't believe one on non-Abrahamic religion or religious artifacts has been featured recently. Tezero (talk) 05:11, 15 October 2014 (UTC)