A set of three wood pagodas from the set of "One million pagodas" (Hyakuman to)

NARA PERIOD (8TH CENTURY)

Details

A set of three wood pagodas from the set of "One million pagodas" (Hyakuman to)

Nara period (8th century)
Each modelled as a tiered wood pagoda with detachable finial opening to the interior hole for the block-printed paper dharani charm that accompanies each pagoda; with traces of white gesso

8¼in. (21cm.) high each (3)

Provenance

Horyuji Temple, Nara

Lot Essay

Three of the 1,000,000 pagodas containing one of four types of printed Buddhist charms commissioned by Empress Shotoku in 764 and completed in 770. She presented the pagodas to ten great temples in the Nara, Osaka and Yamato region, including Kofukuji, Yakushiji, Todaiji, Saidaiji and Horyuji. Over 43,000 pagodas are still kept at Horyuji.

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