Reliquaries from the West Three-story Stone Pagoda at Gameunsa Temple Site

This reliquary from the West Three-story Stone Pagoda at Gameunsa Temple Site was discovered in the third storey of the pagoda body when the west pagoda — one of the East and West Three-story Stone Pagodas at the Gameunsa Temple Site (a national treasure) in Munmudaewang-myeon, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province — was dismantled and repaired. It consists of a bronze rectangular reliquary shrine and the sarira container that had been placed inside it. The reliquary shrine that held the sarira container was made of bronze and was severely corroded when discovered. The rectangular box has a lid in the shape of a gently sloping square pyramid, and the whole stands about 31 cm high. On each of the four sides of the shrine a separately cast figure of one of the Four Heavenly Kings is attached, with a round ring fixed on either side. The surrounding surface is decorated with floral patterns, each engraved separately on copper plates and fixed in place with small nails. The edges are bordered with narrow decorative bands filled with flower-and-leaf motifs, and the rim of the lid is bordered in the same way. Although the postures and drapery of the Four Heavenly Kings guarding the four "gates" resemble those often seen in Tang-dynasty Chinese sculpture, their exotic faces and armour in fact show many elements characteristic of Central Asia. The bronze sarira container inside is made up of three parts — a square base, a body enshrining the sarira bottle, and a finial jewel made of crystal — giving the whole the appearance of a wooden building in miniature. The base and body of the container are relatively well preserved, but the upper section, comprising the pillars and the roof-like spreading part, is corroded beyond recognition of its original form. The base of the container is carved with niche-shaped ornamental designs and set with figures of guardian deities and offering bodhisattvas, with pillars erected on it. A railing runs around the top of the base, and around the sarira bottle enshrined at the centre four musician figures were arranged, with four child-attendant figures fitted in between, though the set does not survive complete. The sarira bottle was enshrined inside a bronze jar in the shape of a flaming jewel with legs, and its lid is of openwork silver. Inside the reliquary shrine a small spoon and tongs used to handle the sarira were also found together, and on top of it all the crystal finial jewel was placed. Although the reliquary from the Gameunsa Temple Site has been much corroded over the long years and no longer survives in its original form, it is an important item of cultural heritage whose every part shows delicate and beautiful carving.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물