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Tiefo Temple Pagoda: Nested Reliquaries
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Tiefo Temple Pagoda: Nested Reliquaries
CHINA, Shaanxi, Xi'an; Song dynasty (960–1279), 10th–11th century; Glass and gold; H: 8.8 cm; Xi'an Institute of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology, Shaanxi, China
The nested reliquaries were excavated from the base of Tiefo Temple Pagoda in Xi'an. They were created to contain the Buddha's relics in the 10th or 11th centuries.
The rectangular gold reliquary box has a beveled edge lid. An inscription on the box relates to the donors who sponsored the enshrinement of the Buddha's relics. The reliquary bottle is kept inside the box. The bottle is made from glass and has a flat base, a square cross section with round shoulders, and a wide neck. A white hemispherical stone stopper is at the top, and the overall bottle is undecorated. The bottle contained relics and items made from glass and agate. |
