Gilt-bronze Reliquary from Sakyamuni Stupa of Dorisa Temple

A hexagonal reliquary found inside the bell-shaped stupa of the Buddha's relics at Dorisa in Seonsan, North Gyeongsang. It is 17 cm high, made up of base, body and roof, and its gilding survives well. It is hexagonal in plan, with eye-shaped openings pierced in the base on each face. On two faces of the body, heavenly guardians holding a fly whisk and a vajra are incised in line and dots; the other four carry the Four Heavenly Kings in line. The arrangement seems meant to bring Vaisravana, the heavenly king who holds a pagoda, to the front, with the guardians either side of him. Rings on the eaves and hips of the roof seem to have held ornaments, and flower finials rise at each corner. A lotus is carved in relief on top; only a knob remains at its centre, so it presumably once had a flower bud. The flower finials suggest a date from the later eighth to the ninth century in Unified Silla, and a hexagonal reliquary at a time when octagons were fashionable is unusual.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk

Designation

National Treasure · 국보