Hojoin Temple Thirteen-Tier Pagoda: Votive Objects

JAPAN, Kyoto, Uji; Kamakura period

These votive objects were found in the thirteen-tier stone pagoda of Hojoin Temple, which collapsed during the Horeki period (1751–1764) following the flooding of the Uji River. Many votive objects were recovered from the first tier. These objects include various reliquaries, ten volumes of the Lotus Sutra written in gold ink, a copper alloy sutra case, a vajra, a statue of Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara, 13 statues of the Buddha, and containers in various shapes. The statue of Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara and the 13 statues of the Buddha were placed in the pagoda when it was reconstructed in 1908.
Most of the objects found were reliquaries in various designs. Some of the most striking are the five-element reliquaries. The bell with a five-prong vajra has a shoulder featuring lotus patterns. The copper alloy sutra container has a cylindrical body, with a knob in the shape of a lotus bud.