Enryakuji Temple Nyohodo Hall: Sutra Box
Gold and silver plated bronze
Enryakuji Temple Nyohodo Hall: Sutra Box
JAPAN, Shiga, Otsu; Heian period
Cast in 1031, this sutra box was unearthed from Nyohodo Hall of Enryakuji Temple in Yokawa Valley at Mount Hiei when a new pagoda was being constructed. It was found in a bronze box with crystal beads and some wooden fragments. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1952.
According to records from Enryakuji Temple, Kakucho and other monks buried a box containing two copies of the Lotus Sutra: one transcribed by Jikaku Ennin in 833, and the other by Jyoto Monin.
The rectangular box is 27 cm long, 12 cm wide, and 8 cm high. The center of the lid is an inscription reading “Lotus Sutra.” The box is covered in a delicate and finely engraved floral pattern.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 85.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 85,
title = {{Enryakuji Temple Nyohodo Hall: Sutra Box}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}