The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 13, 2026

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
Overall: 10.2 x 6.5 x 1.5 cm (4 x 2 9/16 x 9/16 in.)
Location: Not on view

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.
  • ?–1998
    Mr. Mitsuru Tajima, Tokyo, Japan, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1998–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Cunningham, Michael R., "Sacred Metalwork of Korea", Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 43 no. 05, May 2003 Mentioned & reproduced: p. 8-9 archive.org
    Goryeo Dynasty: Korea's Age of Enlightenment, 918-1392. San Francisco: Asian Art Museum, 2003.
    Choi, Eung-chon. “Metal Arts in the Late Goryeo Period [고려후기의 금속공예].” Kangjwa misulsa (2004): 125–156. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Choi, Eung-chon. “Craftsmen in Metal Arts in the Goryeo Dynasty [고려시대 金屬工藝의 匠人].” Misulsahak yeongu (2004): 171–192. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Kim, Eun-ae. "A Study of Repoussé Works of Goryeo [고려시대 타출 공예 연구]." Misulsahak yeogu (2007): 31-72. www.dbpia.co.kr
    Kim, Ri-na. Korean Buddhist Art [한국불교미술사]. Seoul: Mijinsa, 2011.
    Goryeo: The Glory of Korea [대고려, 그 찬란한 도전]. Seoul: National Museum of Korea, 2018.
    Ch'a, Mi-rae, Kwi-suk An, Cleveland Museum of Art, and 국외소재문화재재단. The Korean Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Edited by An Min-hŭi. First edition, English ed. Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Series, 16. Seoul, Republic of Korea: Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, 2021. Mentioned and reproduced: pp. 108–109, no. 69
  • {{cite web|title=Sutra Container|url=false|author=|year=1100s|access-date=13 September 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1998.121