1,250-year-old Japanese pagoda with printed prayer sold for $40,960
A 1,250-year-old miniature wooden pagoda from Japan's Nara Period sold at auction for $40,960. The object is historically significant for containing an early printed Buddhist prayer commissioned by Empress Shotoku.
Why it matters
The sale highlights the historical value of early printing artifacts and the intersection of religious history and auction markets.
A miniature wooden pagoda commissioned by a Japanese empress around 770 CE has sold for $40,960 at Christie's, fetching nearly 2.8 times its highest estimate. The object, which contains an ancient printed Buddhist prayer, offers a glimpse into an early chapter of printing history.A wooden pagoda small enough to hold in one's hands has survived for more than 1,250 years, carrying within it a printed Buddhist prayer from eighth-century Japan. The historic object has now attracted a substantial sum at auction, selling for $40,960 against an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.The object, known as a Hyakumanto pagoda with printed dharani, was offered by Christie's in its Fine Printed Books, Manuscripts, and Science sale.
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