Initially a grave, memorial and sacred burial mound shaped like an inverted round bowl, it first appeared in India to contain the relics and/or the ashes of important Buddhist persons. It later evolved into a massive reliquary with a spire in its top, an axis mundi symbol of the imaginary line through the earth’s center around which the universe revolves. Small stupa or other shaped images (reliquaries) are used as ritual objects. The top of a Burmese offering container called a hsun ok recalls the shape of the height of tall decorative stupas.
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Hand-made metal Nepalese 7-level stupa/pagoda with decorative details around the base and round eaves with scalloped edges used for personal worship.
This elegant red lacquer hsun-ok early 20th century has a simple striking silhouette with raised circular layers on a pedestal base and woven vertical bands topped by a tall round finial resembling a Buddhist stupa.
Artfully shaped lacquered Hsun Ok for offerings to monks lid with a finial symbolizing a Buddhist stupa and applied mythical animals and floral decorations. Early 20th century pieces with these special details are harder to find and copies abound.
Vintage miniature lacquer and bamboo hsun ok used on a home altar for offerings to the Buddha statue there with circular tiers repeated on the foot and the stupa finial top.
Given its size this smaller early 20th century Hsun-ok with simple sophisticated designs may have served as a decorative piece with parallel rows of intricate triangular and beaded borders.
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