2-742-565 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Sutra Container, 1100s. This is a portable container once used to preserve a miniature Buddhist sacred text. Created by hammering the reverse, high-relief designs on both the front and back of the case depict a peaceful pond where young boys are holding giant lotus flowers in their hands, and a pair of mandarin ducks are swimming. Probably the playful boys represent newly reborn souls in the Pure Land, as described in the Lotus Sutra, a widely popular Buddhist scripture during the Goryeo dynasty (936-1392).