Bao’en Temple Pagoda: Reliquary Casket

CHINA, Anhui, Liu’an; Northern Song dynasty

This silver reliquary casket was created during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). It was recovered from the underground palace of Bao’en Temple Pagoda in 1977.
The casket consists of a base, body, and lid. It is made of thin silver panels created using repoussé technique and then joined together. It is 20.5 cm long, 11.5 cm high at the front, and 9 cm high at the back. The width is 9 cm at the front and 8 cm at the back. There is a false double door on the front of the casket with doornails and door handles. On one side of the casket, there is an illustration of the Buddha passing into parinirvana, surrounded by mourning disciples. The other side features a funeral procession with disciples walking slowly and striking cymbals.