Sutra Case
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor
This envelope-shape box once contained the folded manuscript of a Buddhist text, called a sutra. Written forms of Buddhist teachings have always been considered far more important and sacred than artistic visualizations such as sculptures and paintings. For the owner of this deluxe case, who probably wore it hanging from the loop at the top, the sutra inside likely served both as an instructive text and as a powerful amulet.
MEDIUM
Gilt bronze
DATES
12th–13th century
DYNASTY
Goryeo dynasty
PERIOD
Late Goryeo Period
DIMENSIONS
4 5/16 × 2 3/4 in. (11.0 × 7.0 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
L2018.6.6
CREDIT LINE
Lent by the Carroll Family Collection
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, Southwest, 2nd floor
CAPTION
Sutra Case, 12th–13th century. Gilt bronze, 4 5/16 × 2 3/4 in. (11.0 × 7.0 cm). Lent by the Carroll Family Collection, L2018.6.6 (Photo: , CUR.L2018.6.6.jpg)
IMAGE
CUR.L2018.6.6.jpg., 2018
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
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