Guhwangri Three-Tier Pagoda: Nested Reliquaries

SOUTH KOREA, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongju; Unified Silla dynasty

The outer container of this set of nested reliquaries is made of gilt bronze and has an inscription on the lid describing the origin of the stone pagoda and the relics. According to the inscription, Queen Sinmok and her son King Hyoso (reigned 692–701) built the Hwangboksa Temple and a three-tier pagoda in memory of their husband and father, King Sinmun (reigned 681–692). Queen Sinmok passed away in 700, followed by the death of King Hyoso in 702. King Seongdeok (reigned 702–736) subsequently enshrined four relics on the second tier of the pagoda, along with a golden Amitabha Buddha statue and the Pure Light Dharani Sutra to pray for his deceased father and grandmother.
There are 99 single-tier pagodas engraved on the exterior of the outer reliquary container. Inside there is a small silver box which contains a smaller gold box with a reliquary bottle within. There outer container also stores two stemmed cups made of gold and two of silver, as well as a gold seated and standing Buddha. The items found were not those listed in the inscription.