Chongsheng Temple Qianxun Pagoda: Reliquaries
Gold, silver, gilt bronze, iron, and amber
Chongsheng Temple Qianxun Pagoda: Reliquaries
CHINA, Yunnan, Dali; Dali Kingdom
Uncovered from the Qianxun Pagoda in Chongsheng Temple in 1978, this set of reliquaries is comprised of five materials: gold, silver, gilt bronze, iron, and amber, representing the Five Dhyani Buddhas.
The outermost bell-shaped iron cover is curved at the top and decorated with a ring of bead pattern at the waist. The reliquary stupa has a silver base that consists of circular terraces topped by a ring of lotus petals. The stupa body is made of gilt bronze with a pointed silver spire at the top. Inside the gilt bronze layer is another silver layer, followed by a gold layer, and finally an inverted bowl-shaped reliquary stupa made of red amber. Unfortunately, the relic enshrined within is missing.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 42.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 42,
title = {{Chongsheng Temple Qianxun Pagoda: Reliquaries}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}