Sutra case
12th-13th century
Object PlaceKorea
Medium/TechniqueGilt bronze
DimensionsL. 9 cm (3 9/16 in.), w. 6.1 cm (2 3/8 in.), d. 2.1 cm (7/16 in.)
Credit LineCharles Bain Hoyt Fund
Accession number67.1
On View
On viewClassificationsSculpture
Collections
Buddhist sutras are canonical scriptures that describe the teachings of the historical Buddha, Gautama. This portable container from Korea once held such sacred texts. It has a bail at the top for a cord that may have been tied around a person’s waist, and high-relief, repoussé decoration on both the front and back. A V-shaped lid on the front and a hinge along the top edge allow the case to open and close.1 The artist chased six mantras, Sanskrit letters intoned as sacred incantations, against a decorative background into the metal on the upper part of the case under the lid.
Provenance1967, sold by dealer Nathan V. Hammer, New York to the MFA (Accession Date: January 11, 1967).
7th century A.D.
7th century A.D.
8th century
19th century
13th century
19th century
modern copy modeled after a 5th–6th century A.D. piece
2nd century B.C.–2nd century A.D.
2nd century B.C.–2nd century A.D.
13th century
A.D. 668–935