Ancient treasure hidden inside a 700-year-old Buddha statue.
A statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva in a temple in Japan contains many ancient artifacts inside its head and body.
|
A statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva at the Nara National Museum. Photo:NHK. |
A treasure trove of ancient artifacts, including numerous scrolls and other objects, was found inside an ancient Buddha statue at Hokkeji Temple in Nara City, Japan, according to...NewsweekThe seated Buddha statue, 76 cm tall, contains approximately 180 artifacts.
Authorities believe these artifacts have remained in place since being placed inside the 700-year-old statue. They used computed tomography (CT) scanning to examine the statue. Approximately 30 artifacts were located in the statue's head, and the remaining 150 were stuffed inside the body.
"Considering the artifacts inside, the statue is truly exceptional. The discovery has great historical and cultural significance," said Shigeki Iwata, director of special research at the Nara National Museum.
The statue depicts Manjushri Bodhisattva, one of the four great Bodhisattvas symbolizing wisdom. He is often depicted holding a Buddhist scripture in one hand, a sword in the other, and riding on a lion. Manjushri Bodhisattva appears frequently in the art of Japan, Tibet, Nepal, Indonesia, and many other Asian countries.
The statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva will be on display at the Nara National Museum until May 27th. Authorities have not yet revealed whether they plan to collect the artifacts inside the statue.
