Sutra Container
Sutra Container
금동 동자유희무늬 불경상자 (金銅童子遊戱文佛經匣)
1100s
Korea, Goryeo period
(918-1392)
Gilt bronze with incised and high relief decoration
Overall: 10.2 x 6.5 x 1.5 cm (4 x 2 9/16 x 9/16 in.)
Gift of Mitsuru Tajima 1998.121
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Fun Fact
This container held a miniature religious text called a sutra.
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, as described in the Lotus Sutra, a widely popular Buddhist scripture during the Goryeo dynasty (936−1392).
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