Famen Temple Pagoda: Stupa

CHINA, Shaanxi, Baoji; Tang dynasty

This stupa was created in 708 to house the Buddha’s finger bone relic. It is made of white marble, and consists of a base, body, and roof. The overall height is 164 cm. The Sumeru base is 27.2 cm high and has a row of round faces in the concave section. The body is cuboid with a variety of decorated columns, between which are square and rectangular panels and hanging bead designs. At the bottom center, there is a square opening with a small section cut out from the lintel, in which a stupa-shaped vase has been placed. The architrave is decorated with lotus petals and leaf patterns. Between the architrave and the eaves is a row of seven square and shallow niches containing Buddha images. There are double eaves and a square pyramidal roof at the top.
The gilt silver casket was found inside the stupa. It was originally enclosed within an iron casket which no longer exists. It is 8.2 cm long, 7.1 cm high at the front, and 5.3 cm high at the rear. The base is decorated with cloud designs, and the front of the body has an image of two doors flanked by Bodhisattvas with a warrior on each side. The lid is curved with patterns of cloud and flowers.