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Sutra Container

1100s

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

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.

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Learn more about this artwork.
  • Title: Sutra Container
  • Date Created: 1100s
  • Physical Dimensions: Overall: 10.2 x 6.5 x 1.5 cm (4 x 2 9/16 x 9/16 in.)
  • Provenance: Mr. Mitsura Tajima, Tokyo, Japan, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Type: Metalwork
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1998.121
  • Medium: gilt bronze with incised and high relief decoration
  • Fun Fact: This is a portable container once used to preserve a miniature Buddhist sacred text, particularly useful for traveling Buddhist pilgrims.
  • Department: Korean Art
  • Culture: Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mitsuru Tajima
  • Collection: Korean Art
  • Accession Number: 1998.121
The Cleveland Museum of Art

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