Haiqing Temple Ayuwang Pagoda: Nested Reliquaries

CHINA, Jiangsu, Lianyungang; Song dynasty

These nested reliquaries, which were placed in the first story of the pagoda in 1026, were recovered in 1975. They consist of a stone outer casket, followed by a silver casket, within which there are a gilt silver casket at the front, and a silver box containing two relics of the Buddha at the back.
The stone outer casket stands on a rectangular Sumeru base and is 89 cm long, 40 cm wide, and 60 cm high. There is a relief depicting the scene of the Buddha’s Parinirvana on the sides. On the lower section, there is a depiction of Sakra, Brahma, and the Buddha’s disciples in mourning. The base has reliefs of four warriors holding the casket on their shoulders.
The intermediate silver casket is 20.5 cm long, 8.8 cm wide, and 10.5 cm high nests inside the stone casket. There is another depiction of the parinirvana on the sides with the Ten Great Disciples and Brahma. An inscription with the date of 1026 is at the back and lists the names of the Xie family members as donors.
The innermost gilt silver casket is 10.3 cm long, 5.7 cm wide, and 7.5 cm high. The center of the lid has a depiction of the reclining Buddha. On both long sides there is a gilt seated Buddha. An inscription dated to 1026 appears at the back, and records Shen Zhongshu and his family as donors.
The silver box containing the two relics of the Buddha has a lid with a lock and chain on either side, and a double chain at the back.