Jingzhi Temple Pagoda: Reliquary Casket
Gilt bronze
Jingzhi Temple Pagoda: Reliquary Casket
CHINA, Hebei, Baoding; Sui dynasty
This Sui dynasty reliquary casket was recovered from the underground palace of Jingzhi Temple Pagoda in 1969.
Made of gilt bronze, the square casket is 19.5 cm high and 23.3 cm on each side. The entire surface is filled with engraved designs, and on the lid, there is a Heavenly King holding a three-prong vajra and stepping on a yaksa. The sloping sides of the lid have depictions of birds and heavenly horses on a floral background.
There are honeysuckle patterns on the sides of the reliquary, and two pointed canopies under which are images of Bodhisattvas. From the 80-character inscription, it is known that the pagoda was reconstructed in 603 and the casket was placed in the pagoda in 606. It once held a gold reliquary and a glass reliquary bottle.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 150.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 150,
title = {{Jingzhi Temple Pagoda: Reliquary Casket}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}