Reliquaries from the Five-story Stone Pagoda in Wanggung-ri, Iksan

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.123

Category

Craft

Era

통일신라

Designated year

1966

Location

익산시, 전북특별자치도— 전북특별자치도 익산시 미륵사지로 362(금마면, 국립익산박물관)

Coordinates

35.801247, 127.089804

These relics were found from the platform and the roofstone of the first tier of the pagoda body in the course of repairing the five-story stone pagoda (National Treasure No. 289) in Wanggung-ri, Iksan, which is known as the site of the Royal Palace of the Mahan Dynasty, in 1965. The relics date back to a wide range of period, i.e., from Baekje (18BC-660AD) to Goryeo (918-1392). A bronze standing statue of Buddha with a mandorla (Buddhist halo of light) and pedestal, along with a ceremonial hand bell, was found from the eastern part of the “品”-shaped holes on the top side of the platform. Incense was found from the northern part of the holes. The remaining part of the holes showed traces of robbery. The two holes made at the center of the upper side of the roofstone of the first story of the pagoda body produced a green glass sarira bottle with lotus bud-shaped lid and a set of 19 pure gold sheets of Diamond Sutra tablet tied with two gold strings. The relics were securely contained in a double-walled reliquary. The inner compartment of the reliquary containing the green glass sarira bottle has a lid inscribed with lotus bud and bead patterns. The compartment containing the Diamond Sutra tablet has a lid with a gold link inscribed with a mum pattern.

Location