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

This is a set of reliquary objects discovered in 1996 during the dismantling and repair of the eastern pagoda among the Three-story Stone Pagodas at Gameunsa Temple Site (a National Treasure), formerly in Wolseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It is similar in structure to the bronze reliquary (a Treasure) found inside the west three-story stone pagoda at Gameunsa Temple Site in 1959, and consists of an outer case, an inner reliquary, and a small bottle for the sari (Buddhist relics). The four walls of the outer case are decorated with images of the Four Heavenly Kings guarding the relics, surrounded by cloud patterns, with rings carved in the shape of demon faces placed on either side. The inner case housing the relics consists of three parts: a base, a body, and a canopy. Separately made lion figures stand at each of the four corners of the base, and the sides of the base bear large openwork carvings in the shape of an ansang, an ornamental arch-shaped niche motif; within the openwork, guardian deity figures and offering bodhisattvas are carved in relief. At the centre of the body is a bowl-shaped container holding the relics, around which four figures each of the Four Heavenly Kings and monks were separately made and arranged; a railing encircles the outer edge, and bamboo-joint-shaped pillars at the four corners support an elaborately decorated canopy. The rock-crystal reliquary bottle is 3.65 cm tall and forms a set together with an intricately gold-granulated lid and stand, a circular crystal disc stand, and an openwork gilt-bronze stand. Judging from its manufacturing technique and form, this set of reliquaries represents the pinnacle of Unified Silla craftsmanship, and is regarded as valuable material for the study of the history of Buddhist sculpture and crafts.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물