Covered Bowl with a Stupa-Shaped Knob

塔鋺

At a glance — Art Object · 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: Art Objects
Period: Nara period, 8th century
Date: 701–800
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-117897

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Same period: Nara art objects →
At this museum: All 1632 works here →

This footed bowl comes with a lid with a knob shaped like a stupa. Like the famous stupas in Sanchi, India, the roundly shaped lid is topped with three stupa platforms. This bowl is thought to have been used as an incense container, but there are similar bowls that were used as Buddhist reliquaries.

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

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-117897 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-117897
Holder's collection: ColBase — Tokyo National Museum
Photograph: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Covered Bowl with a Stupa-Shaped Knob（塔鋺）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-117897. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/covered-bowl-with-a-stupa-shaped-knob/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)