One Million Pagodas and Dharani Texts

JAPAN; Nara period

According to historical records, Empress Koken (reigned 745–758) of the Nara period commissioned the creation of one million miniature three-tier pagodas containing the One Million Pagoda Dharani in 764. The pagodas were completed in 770 and 900,000 were sent to temples around the country. The remaining 100,000 were distributed to the Ten Major Temples in Nara, which includes Gangoji Temple, Todaiji Temple, Saidaiji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and Horyuji Temple. These two miniature pagodas were given to Horyuji Temple, and are now kept in Nezu Museum in Tokyo.
The simple wooden pagodas measure 21.7 cm high and consist of a circular base, body, and spire. Tapered upward, there is a hole with a diameter of 1.5 cm in the top story of each pagoda to contain one of four dharanis which were printed in regular script on a 5.5 cm by 36 cm paper scroll. At the top, there are five stacked rings, a canopy, and jewels.