Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Buddhist Reliquary (Box)

舎利容器（銀箱）
Buddhist Reliquary (Box) (舎利容器（銀箱）)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
At a glance — Metalwork · Nara period, 8th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation
Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category
Metalwork
Date
701–800
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-71438

Find more

When clearing the site of the former Mishima Temple in 1907, this Buddhist reliquary was found in the foundation stone of the central pillar of the temple’s pagoda. A rectangular hole in the round foundation stone held the reliquary, which consisted of a stone casket with nested gold, silver, and bronze containers. The former temple is thought to have been the family temple of the Nakatomi-no-oda-no-muraji family. (20120508_h012）

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Buddhist Reliquary (Box)（舎利容器（銀箱））.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-71438. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/buddhist-reliquary-box/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Metalwork
  • Category: Applied arts:Religious objects:Buddhism:Ornamental objects
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Material: Silver (lid: forged silver, box: cast silver)
  • 員数: 1合
  • 分類: 金工
  • 種別: 工芸:宗教・信仰用具:仏教:荘厳具
  • 品質形状: 銀製 蓋：鍛造 身：鋳造
  • 法量: 総高1.0 蓋長2.4 幅1.2 高0.44 身長2.3 幅1.1 高0.7

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