Gold Inner Coffin and Silver Outer Coffin

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Gold Inner Coffifi n and Silver Outer Coffifi n (big coffifi n outside inner coffifi n in ancient times) are used for placing Sakyamuni s relics, which is precious Buddhist relic of the Tang Dynasty. At the time of unearthing, Sakyamuni s relics are under layers of protection. They are initially installed in the relic vase, relic vase is placed in golden inner coffifi n, golden inner coffifi n is placed in silver outer coffifi n, and silver outer coffin is placed in the relic treasure curtain. Gold Inner Coffifi n and Silver Outer Coffifi n have the same shape. Silver Outer Coffifi n is inlaid with sapphire, crystal stone, agate, cat s eye, pearl, etc. Gold Inner Coffin is gilt with copper, which is also covered in a variety of precious stones and pearls. The whole coffins are chic and uniqe, with exquisite craftsmanship .

Gold Inner Coffifi n features concise shape and elegant gorgeous style. Both sides and tail of the coffifi n cover are piled with pearls to form the pattern of flowers, which are stuck with silk leaves. The center of coffin cover is decorated with a cat’s eye gemstone. Coffin head is riveted with a pair of copper-gilt lion. Under the coffifi n body, there is openwork base.

Coffin cover of silver coffin is decorated with pattern of flowers made of sticky pearls, which is embedded with cat’s eye gemstone, crystal, sapphire and other precious stones. Coffin head is gilt with two gold-gilt statue of Bodhisattva, and the tail is gilt with gold-gilt Manes Treasure Pearl. Both sides of the coffifi n see the gold-gilt statues of ten disciples of Sakyamuni, which feature lively form and different look. This adds a strong Buddhist atmosphere for the coffifi n. Sumeru seat of silver coffifi n (i.e., base for statues, pagodas and Buddha halls) is also surrounded by pearls as decoration.

Buddhist relics

Buddhist relics are also known as “sarīra”, which refer to the fruit in the practice for Enlightenment, which are bodies or bones of dead senior Buddhist monks. According to the legend, after Sakyamuni’s body was cremated, it became a lot of beads, including red relics (meat), white relic (bone) and black relic (hair). In 1985, more than 100 relics were unearthed from Fozujing Palace of Qingshan Temple of the Tang Dynasty in Shaanxi, which are the only Buddhist relics with the characters “Shi Jia Mou Ni” marked in the container.

In Buddhism, the death of Buddha or senior monk is called as “nirvana”. Sakyamuni achieved nirvana at the age of 80. On that day, Sakyamuni ordered his disciple Ananda to make bed in Two Trees. His head directed northwards and faced westwards, lied on right side and crossed legs for repose. At midnight, it was quiet. With the sonorous sound, Sakyamuni explained key points of Nirvana Sutra to the disciples. At last, he achieved nirvana with a kind smile. After Sakyamuni’s nirvana, his disciples came to see the Buddha from all sides, respected the remains of the Buddha, and remembered his merits. Seven days later, the Sakyamuni’s body was incinerated, and left many relics. They were divided into three parts: some relics were offered for the heavens, some relics were offered for the Dragon King, and some relics were offered to the kings of eight kingdoms. But the eight kingdoms sent forces to grab in order to get the relics. Later, such relics were divided into eight portions, which were contained in clean containers and worshipped in stupas built by eight kingdoms.