(七寶, qibao / shippō)
Overview
Among the most radiant symbols in Mahāyāna Buddhism, the Seven Precious Materials (七寶, qibao in Chinese, shippō in Japanese) appear throughout the Lotus Sutra as emblems of the Buddha’s world. Palaces, banners, and jewelled trees are said to be adorned with these seven treasures, each reflecting an aspect of awakened mind and the harmony of all dharmas.
In East Asian Buddhism, especially within the Tiantai (天台) and Tendai (天台宗) traditions, the seven treasures are not viewed as literal riches but as metaphors for spiritual qualities cultivated on the path of enlightenment.
The Seven Treasures
| Treasure | Chinese / Japanese | Symbolic Meaning | Corresponding Virtue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 金 (jin / kin) | Unchanging truth and the radiant wisdom of the Middle Way. | Wisdom (prajñā) |
| Silver | 銀 (yin / gin) | Purity and moral clarity; conduct that reflects the Dharma. | Ethical discipline (śīla) |
| Lapis Lazuli | 琉璃 (liúli / ruri) | Deep blue transparency; insight that cuts through delusion. | Meditative concentration (samādhi) |
| Seashell (Mother-of-Pearl) | 硨磲 (chēqú / shako) | Receptivity and purity; the luminous vessel of the Dharma, reflecting the ocean of truth. | Faith (śraddhā) |
| Agate | 瑪瑙 (mǎnǎo / menō) | Endurance and harmony; the steadfastness of practice in all conditions. | Effort (vīrya) |
| Pearl | 真珠 (zhēnzhū / shinju) | The perfect, unified mind that holds all dharmas within itself. | Mindfulness (smṛti) |
| Carnelian (or Coral) | 珊瑚 (shānhú / sango) | Compassionate activity; the red warmth of the awakened heart. | Compassion (karuṇā) |
Tiantai Interpretation
In Zhiyi’s (智顗) commentaries (the Fahua xuanyi (法華玄義) and Fahua wenju (法華文句)) these treasures symbolise the perfections of the One Vehicle (一乘, ekayāna). Each treasure arises when a deluded function of mind becomes purified through practice:
“When ignorance is transformed, wisdom shines like gold;
when defilements are cleared, the mind mirrors like lapis;
when faith is complete, the seashell reveals the ocean of reality.”
Later Tiantai and Tendai scholars such as Guanding (灌頂) and Annen (安然) emphasised that the seven treasures manifest not in heaven but within one’s own heart. The “jewelled world” of the Lotus Sutra thus describes the awakened mind itself.
Textual Background
In Sanskrit sources, the seven treasures (saptaratna) are usually listed as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, pearl, and coral. However, in the Chinese translations of the Lotus Sutra, especially Kumārajīva’s influential 406 CE version, the fourth treasure is listed as seashell (硨磲) [or mother of pearl] rather than crystal. This subtle shift gave East Asian Buddhism its distinct imagery of the clam shell that reflects the sea, symbolising purity and sound, the voice of the Buddha echoing across the Dharma ocean.
Symbolism in Practice
In Tiantai contemplation, the seven treasures can be understood as the seven factors of enlightenment (七覺支, sapta bodhyaṅga): mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquillity, concentration, and equanimity. Each jewel mirrors one of these spiritual perfections.
Modern practitioners may also create a symbolic offering, a small clamshell or dish containing seven stones, beads, or even painted pebbles, to honour the treasures of the Buddha-land. What matters, as Zhiyi writes, is not the material’s value, but the sincerity of the mind that offers it.
“Even a single flower or one grain of sand,
when offered with the whole heart,
adorns the boundless jewelled realm of awakening.”
References
- Lotus Sutra (妙法蓮華經), trans. Kumārajīva (406 CE), ch. 1, Introductory.
- Zhiyi, Fahua xuanyi (法華玄義).
- Zhiyi, Fahua wenju (法華文句).
- Gene Reeves, The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic (2008).
- Burton Watson, The Lotus Sutra (1993).
See also:
The Lotus Sutra
What is Tiantai Buddhism?
The Seven Precious Materials, or Seven Treasures, continue to inspire both devotion and reflection among Mahāyāna Buddhists today. Below are answers to common questions about their meaning, symbolism, and Tiantai–Tendai interpretation, exploring how these jewels illuminate the Lotus Sutra’s vision of the awakened world.
FAQ
What are the Seven Precious Materials in the Lotus Sutra?
The Seven Precious Materials, also called the Seven Treasures (七寶, qibao / shippō), are gold, silver, lapis lazuli, seashell (mother-of-pearl), agate, pearl, and carnelian (or coral). They appear throughout the Lotus Sutra as symbols of the Buddha’s world, representing the virtues of enlightenment rather than literal wealth.
Why does the Chinese and Japanese Lotus Sutra include a seashell instead of crystal?
In Sanskrit sources, the seven treasures include crystal, but Kumārajīva’s 5th-century Chinese translation renders this as seashell (硨磲, chēqú), a sacred clam shell symbolising purity and the sound of the Dharma. East Asian traditions, including Tiantai and Tendai, retained this version, giving the sutra its distinctive oceanic imagery.
What do the Seven Precious Materials symbolize in Tiantai Buddhism?
Each treasure corresponds to a perfected quality of the awakened mind:
Gold – unchanging wisdom of the Middle Way
Silver – purity of ethical conduct
Lapis Lazuli – clarity of insight
Seashell – receptivity and faith
Agate – endurance and harmony
Pearl – unity of the One Mind
Carnelian/Coral – compassion and vitality
Together, they express the complete harmony of wisdom, virtue, and compassion within the One Vehicle.
How did Tiantai master Zhiyi interpret the Seven Treasures?
Zhiyi taught that the treasures represent the transformation of delusion into wisdom. When ignorance is purified, the mind becomes as radiant as gold; when faith matures, it shines like lapis or pearl. The jewelled world described in the Lotus Sutra is not external but the manifestation of one’s own enlightened nature.