Reliquary from Wangheungsa Temple Site, Buyeo

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.327

Category

Craft

Era

577년(백제 위덕왕 24)

Designated year

2019

Location

부여군, 충청남도— 충청남도 부여군 금성로 5(부여읍, 국립부여박물관)

Coordinates

36.276100, 126.901200Museum-based location

Known as the oldest extant sarira reliquary in Korea, the Sarira Reliquary of the Wangheungsa Temple Site in Buyeo was found at the site of Wangheungsa Temple (Bakeje) when it was excavated in 2007 by the Buyeo National Institute of Cultural Heritage. The inscription on the bronze sarira case shows that the reliquary was made in 577 during the reign of King Wideok (r. 554-598) of Baekje. The origins of the temple are recorded in The History of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk sagi, 1145). The sarira bottles of the reliquary display the typically high level of workmanship of Baekje artisans in terms of the techniques used to cast, cut, join and polish them. The vessels are also highly regarded for the delightfully simple and elegant shape of their body, the onion-shaped cintamani knob on their lid, and the lotus motif decoration on their surface. Generally regarded as a masterpiece among the sarira reliquaries of late sixth-century Baekje, this particular reliquary is a valuable link between the Baekje metalcraft represented by the silver cup and saucer excavated at King Muryeong’s tomb built in 525 and that represented by the sarira reliquary excavated from the Mireuksa Temple site, which dates back to the first half of the seventh century.

Location