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

Buddhist Reliquary (Jar)

舎利容器（銅壺）
Buddhist Reliquary (Jar) (舎利容器（銅壺）)
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-71437

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 (Jar)（舎利容器（銅壺））.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-71437. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/buddhist-reliquary-jar/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Genre: Metalwork
  • Material: Cast bronze
  • Category: Applied arts:Religious objects:Buddhism:Ornamental objects
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • 員数: 1合
  • 分類: 金工
  • 品質形状: 銅製 鋳造
  • 種別: 工芸:宗教・信仰用具:仏教:荘厳具
  • 法量: 総高6.9 蓋径6.4 高3.1 身径5.7 高4.1

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