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Sutra Container

금동 동자유희무늬 불경상자 [金銅童子遊戱文佛經匣]

1100s

Korea, Goryeo dynasty

(918–1392)
Medium
gilt bronze with incised and high relief decoration
Measurements
Overall: 10.2 x 6.5 x 1.5 cm (4 x 2 9/16 x 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mitsuru Tajima 1998.121
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

This is a portable container once used to preserve a miniature Buddhist sacred text, particularly useful for traveling Buddhist pilgrims.

Description

This is a portable container once used to preserve a miniature Buddhist sacred text. Created by hammering the reverse, high-relief designs on both the front and back of the case depict a peaceful pond where young boys are holding giant lotus flowers in their hands, and a pair of mandarin ducks are swimming. Probably the playful boys represent newly reborn souls in the Pure Land.
A rectangular gilt bronze container features designs of winding stems ending in lotus flowers to which two children cling in the upper half above a "v"-shaped line, while two ducks swim below. The children have round faces and winding limbs, looking toward each other. The ducks swim toward our left, one looking back at the other. Most of the gilding has worn away, revealing a red-brown bronze with dense green corrosion, mostly in the lower half.

Sutra Container

1100s

Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)

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