Chorten
13th century or later (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This stupa or 'chorten' is made in cast brass. 'Chorte'n came to symbolise the Buddha himself in Tibet in much the same way that the cross signifies Christ in the west. The stupa had evolved in early Indian Buddhism out of the shape of ancient Indian burial mounds but continued as reliquaries in Tibet, where they frequently contained fragments of bone and other bodily relics from revered religious figures.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass |
| Brief description | Chorten, brass, Tibet, 13th century or later. |
| Physical description | Stupa or chorten in cast brass. |
| Dimensions |
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| Historical context | A chorten is theTibetan form of the Indian Buddhist monument, the stupa. Originally erected to preserve relics and to commemorate the Buddha's death, they came to symbolize his enlightenment and thus became a central symbol of the Buddhist religion itself. Model chortens are used both as reliquaries and as votive offerings on temple altars. The contents of a similar chorten were radio-carbon dated to c.1230. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This stupa or 'chorten' is made in cast brass. 'Chorte'n came to symbolise the Buddha himself in Tibet in much the same way that the cross signifies Christ in the west. The stupa had evolved in early Indian Buddhism out of the shape of ancient Indian burial mounds but continued as reliquaries in Tibet, where they frequently contained fragments of bone and other bodily relics from revered religious figures. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.71-1929 |
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| Record created | February 13, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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