Toshodaiji Temple: Reliquary Stupa

JAPAN, Nara; Kamakura period

During the Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907), Master Jianzhen brought 3,000 relics from China to Japan. He built Toshodaiji Temple and this reliquary stupa was created during the late 12th century to enshrine the relics. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1961.
Consisting of a base, body, roof, and spire, the base is shaped as a tortoise covered in gold, and it supports a stem surmounted by a lotus pedestal. The cylindrical body is an openwork structure formed by lotus and scroll leaf patterns. Within, there is a Tang dynasty glass reliquary whose neck is wrapped in a fine cloth. The body is surmounted by a pyramidal roof covered with cylindrical tiles and supported by bracket sets. Wind chimes hang on each corner of the eaves. The spire consists of nine stacked rings, followed by the flaming jewel-shaped finial. Wind chimes hang from the four chains connecting the top of the stacked rings to the hips of the roof.