Kozanji Temple: Nested Reliquaries

JAPAN, Kyoto; Kamakura period

The outer reliquary takes the form of a cabinet, while the inner reliquary is cylindrical.They were listed as an Important Cultural Property in 2006.
The cabinet is lacquered and decorated using the maki-e technique with fine gold powder. It consists of a base, body, and imitation roof. The lower part of the base consists of four feet supporting a platform. The upper part of the base has arched cutout designs resembling bats. The cuboid body has a set of double doors at the front and rear. On the inside of the inner doors, there are illustrations of Heavenly Kings. On the back wall, there is a Sakyamuni Buddha triad. The reliquary cylinder is placed in the center. The square pyramidal roof has eaves which flare at the corners. The roof has images of Dharma wheels and double vajras, which appear elsewhere on the cabinet. In the center of the roof there is a square harmika followed by an inverted lotus, an upright lotus, and a flaming jewel.
The cylindrical reliquary has a curved top with a knob in the form of a lotus bud. A pair of doors opens to reveal a flaming crystal supported by lotus petals. The relics are enshrined within the crystal.