Sutra Box

JAPAN; Heian period

Believed to be originally kept at Jinguji Temple, this leather sutra box is now in the collection of Nara National Museum. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1956.
The box is rectangular with rounded corners and measures 31.8 cm long, 17.6 cm wide, and 12.1 cm high. The case is made of black lacquered leather to which patterns have been applied followed by a sprinkling of gold powder. A number of layers of lacquer were painted on the surface to form the finished product. The patterns consist of lotuses with scroll leaves, lotus ponds, and butterflies. The inside of the lid is illustrated with dancing butterflies.
Artifacts in lacquered leather were popular during the Nara period (710–794), but were infrequent during the following Heian period. This type of craftsmanship is rarely seen, and this late Heian period sutra case is the only known one in existence.