Qing Imperial Palace: Stupa

CHINA, Beijing; Qing dynasty

This stupa is embedded with various gemstones such as turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, and amber. It served as an imperial offering instrument during the Qing dynasty.
The Sumeru base is decorated with lotus petals and flowers. At the top, there are three circular rings each enclosed within a balustrade of white and green jade. The base supports an inverted-bowl shaped body, with bestial faces who clench rings in their mouths, on all four sides. There is a niche at the front of the stupa, decorated with rubies and a flame pattern. Inside the niche is a white stone seated Amitayus Buddha measuring 7.7 cm high. The Buddha wears a five-leaf crown, ornaments, and a stole. All the decorations are embedded with gemstones. On top of the stupa body, there is a spire consisting of 13 stacked rings surmounted by a canopy, a jewel, the moon, and the sun. Four beaded streamers hang from the canopy.