Dayun Temple Pagoda: Nested Reliquaries

CHINA, Gansu, Pingliang; Tang dynasty

This set of reliquaries was recovered from the underground palace of Dayun Temple Pagoda in 1964. The reliquary set consists of five nesting pieces. The stone box is 42.5 cm high, 50.5 cm long, and 49.5 cm wide. It is covered with donor names and an inscription dating to 694. The lid has a nine-character inscription and is decorated with a scrolling leaf pattern. Within the box is the gilt bronze reliquary, which is 12.3 cm along each side and 13.2 cm high. The lid has beveled edges and a scroll leaf pattern.
Also with a scroll leaf pattern, the silver reliquary casket has an arch-shaped lid that is 7.1 cm high. It has two ring handles on each side. Similar in shape is the 4.6 cm high gold reliquary casket, lavishly decorated with turquoise and pearl inlays. The glass reliquary bottle, which enshrines 14 relics, measures 2.6 cm high.
The underground palace at Dayun Temple is one of the oldest tomb-style underground palaces in China; therefore this reliquary set is considered to be the first of its kind.