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- One Million Pagoda
Overview
One Million Pagoda
- Museum No.
- JK290
Photo No：357-8646-1
Color type：Color
| Title | One Million Pagoda |
|---|---|
| Designation | |
| Artist | |
| Category | Archaeology (J), Other |
| Country | Japan |
| Period | Nara |
| Century | 8th |
| Year | |
| Quantity | |
| Materials | |
| Dimensions | Height 21cm Base diameter 10cm |
| Inscription by | |
| Signature/Seals Etc | |
| Donor |
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This object may be one within a set or the title of a set. To see all objects in the set, perform a Category Search by the Museum Number below, entering numerals only before the hyphen.
This piece is one of a set of one million pagodas ordered by Empress Shotoku in 764 A.D.. She had them made after the Rebellion of Emi-no-Oshikatsu, as an offering of peace for the nation. At the time, each of ten major temples received a share of 100,000 pagodas, though only Horyu-ji Temple still has any left today.
The bodies of the pagodas are separate from the finials (spires). Each pagoda has a carved, cylindrical cavity in the center to hold a roll of Buddhist scripture called the Daranikyo sutra (Dharani). Many of the pagodas have a production date and a craftsperson's name inscribed in ink.
This piece has ink inscriptions on its underside and on the finial, but they are covered by the chalk white gofun coating.
Japan-Nara