Japanese Works of Art - 27th July 2021
Lot 416
A JAPANESE HYAKUMANTO WOOD MODEL OF A STUPA
Estimate £3,000 - £5,000
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Description
A JAPANESE HYAKUMANTO WOOD MODEL OF A STUPA
NARA PERIOD, 8TH CENTURY
From the set of 'One Million Pagodas', the tiered model turned on a lathe, with a detachable finial and remnants of white gesso, 22cm. (2)
The set of 'One Million Pagodas' (Hyakumanto) was commissioned by Empress Shotoku (718-770) to thank Buddhist deities for their help in suppressing a rebellion by Emi no Oshikatsu (Fujiwara no Nakamaro) in 764. One hundred thousand were gifted to the ten most important temples across Japan. Today, Horyu-ji temple in Nara is the only one to still hold forty thousand pagodas from the original donation.