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Ruiguang Temple Pagoda: Sutra Box
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Ruiguang Temple Pagoda: Sutra Box
CHINA, Jiangsu, Suzhou; Tang dynasty to Five Dynasties (618–960); Wood with mother–of–pearl; H: 12.7 cm; Zhenjiang Museum, Jiangsu, China
When this sutra box was discovered in 1978, it contained seven fascicles of the Lotus Sutra, written in gold on blue paper.
The box measures 34.8 cm long, 13.7 cm wide, and 12.7 cm high. It is lacquered in black and decorated with bands of mother-of-pearl inlay shaped as buds, four-petal flowers, and hearts. over 700 pieces of mother-of-pearl, each approximately 0.1 cm thick and delicately carved, were used for this artifact. The natural colors of the mother-of-pearls enhance the exquisiteness of the piece.
The lid is decorated with three rosettes, and the sides and beveled edges are decorated with flying birds and butterflies between diamond-shape bands. |
