Yellow bronze cylindrical gong, kane, Zenshoji temple, Japan

Description

Kane gong or bell of a very simple, cylindrical or dish shape, without any sort of decoration. Two loops for cords to hang the gong on a wooden rack. Yellow bronze (sentoku).
Inscription incised in the rim on the back/inside. It mentions the dedication of this gong at the Zenshoji temple in Meiji 40 (1907).
Diam. 12.5 in.; H ca. 3.5 inches.
There are several temples in Japan with that name. One in Tottori Prefecture, one on Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, one on Kyushu, one in Hyogo Prefecture, etc. Further determination based on the inscription is not possible.
Some mild traces of usage (scratches and small dents on the surface outside, one edge dented unobtrusively. Inside white circles from playing it. Good sound.
Kane are musical instruments that are used in the Japanese folk music or Min'yo. The instrument can be hung or held with one hand, and the player hits the instrument with a mallet from the inside. The kane can produce two distinct sounds: ‘chi’ and ‘chon’. ‘Chi’ is the sound of hitting the bell on the interior sides. ‘Chon’ is the sound of hitting the flat round inner face of the bell. A third sound, ‘ki’ is produced by reversing the stroke.
This same instrument is used as well in Buddhist or Shinto ceremonies like a gong, usually to tell time or to invite/alert people to a certain event, but also as a prayer gong.