Reliquary from the Wooden Stupa Site at Hwangnyongsa Temple Site

In 646 CE, Queen Seondeok ordered the construction of a nine-story wooden stupa in Hwangnyongsa Temple , which had been built during the reign of King Jinheung of Silla. The reliquary from the foundation stone for the wooden stupa site was stolen, but was recovered in 1966. The inner chest of the reliquary was formed by the base pillar of the stupa, which was built in 872 CE when the stupa was reconstructed. To make the inner chest, gilt-bronze plates were connected with hinges to form a cuboid box, with a knob on one side for opening the reliquary. The front and back sides of the door are decorated with incisings of the Vajrapanies and Guardians . On the front and back of the other three sides of the reliquary, the story of the construction of the stupa is recorded in detail, along with a list of names of officials and monks who participated in its construction.