National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

This is a reliquary in an unusual form: A rinpo (wheel) and a gokosho (a short club used in Esoteric Buddhist rituals) are placed on the podium, on which a silver-plated copper container for Buddha’s bones (busshari) is enshrined on a lotus pedestal, which is placed within a circle. It is said that placing a busshari on a kongosho (a gilt-bronze short club) follows the manner for Tathagata prescribed in the Kanmuryoju Sutra. Since a reliquary was used for contemplation in Esoteric Buddhism, it is also called busshari stupa in the form of a gem for esoteric contemplation. Among similar busshari stupas, this one stands out in technical excellence and grand shape.