A JAPANESE HYAKUMANTO WOOD MODEL OF A STUPA

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.