7 LOYER CASKET PRECIOUS GOLD BOXES (03/07/2011)

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7 LOYER CASKET PRECIOUS GOLD BOXES

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7 LOYER CASKET PRECIOUS GOLD BOXES

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Sold Date: 03/07/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations

SET OF GOLD BOXES

This piece was acquired about 20 years ago by my family who got it from a private collector of ancient Chinese art and artifacts. The history of this item, according to our family records, was that this was one of several pieces that are said to have come from an ancient Chinese temple.

We have the following information on this incredible piece:

These are called the 7 Precious boxes. The seven loyer casket, each inside the other, which is symbolic of housing the piece of bone from the fingers of the Buddha. This set of boxes were made specifically to to contain the Sarira. The Sarira, is indeed the Buddha’s bone remains, specifically the finger bone. There were more than one set of boxes. The original one, found in the underground of the Famen Temple, contained the true Sakyamuni’s finger bone while others, such as this one contained the reproduction of the finger bone made of jade or some other material. Also the original set of boxes unearthed in the underground, the fifth and sixth boxes had pearls on them. This set does not have pearls on the 5 th and 6 th . The boxes fit inside each other. The smallest, or Buddha tower first and so on. The outermost box was made of wood, but was destroyed. So there are six boxes in this set plus the Buddha tower which contained the finger bone.

From largest to smallest:

The first box there are two swimming dragons on the top. The four sides are protected by the legendary Buddha 4 Tian Wang.

The second box, said to be the special one, has no pictures on it.

The third box is the Buddha talking Sutra

Fourth box is Kwan Yin and the RuYiLuan which is one of the 8 precious items in Buddhism.

Fifth and sixth boxes. Intricate and beautiful flower designs, but no pearls on it.

Seventh is the Buddha tower which had the finger bone.

The largest box is 9” high and 7 ¾”wide. The other 6 boxes are progressively smaller in size and fit one into the other. The pins or small rods going through the 3 rings on the front of the boxes are missing.

History says that the FaMen temple was made for the Sarira. The dagoba boxes are said to have been the bodyguard of the Sarira.

This set of boxes`are credible ancient items, rare and a very valuable set to add to anyone’s collection