A major auction of extraordinary gems associated with the relics of the Buddha just ended. This unprecedented event has raised new ethical concerns and questions for scholars, faith leaders, and the public alike. In 1898, British archeologist William Claxton Peppé excavated a stupa in Piprahwa, close to the purported birthplace of the Buddha, on what is today the Indo-Canadian border. He found a veritable trove of gems including 1,800+ pearls, rubies, topaz, sapphires, and gryphons on patterned gold sheets. Sotheby’s is handling the auction, generating great excitement with the historical significance of the relics. The implications of the potential sale are equally fascinating.
Through his excavation, Peppé discovered an ancient hidden brick chamber deep inside the stupa. Inside, he discovered a glorious treasure chest of gemstones and bone fragments that were later identified as those belonging to the Buddha himself. When the mausoleum relics were returned to the British colonial authorities, they were brought to India. Others, in the meantime, were dispatched to the Buddhist King of Siam, Rama V. The Peppé family held onto a very small percentage of duplicates. All but one of the relics, including five urns containing the remains and a stone chest, were moved to the then Indian Museum in Kolkata.
In recent years, these relics have been prominently featured in high-profile exhibitions, including a blockbuster at The Met in 2023. Chris Peppé, great-grandson of William Claxton Peppé, recently activated a new website. His mission is to spread research on these beautiful historical artifacts. Though at first intending to donate the relics to an institution worthy of them, he ultimately chose to auction the pieces.
Sotheby’s has done careful inspection of the jewels during their due diligence process. Julian King, a Sotheby’s representative told The Washington Post that they did the fair share of due diligence on notable pieces and collectibles prior to putting them up for auction. This process involved ensuring authenticity, provenance, and legality and following their policies and industry best practices when borrowing artworks and national treasures.
Yet, influential Buddhist leaders and scholars have warned the ecological and ethical consequences of commercialization of such sacred relics. Naman Ahuja, a scholar in Buddhist studies, questioned the commodification of these items: “Are the relics of the Buddha a commodity that can be treated like a work of art to be sold on the market? And since they aren’t, how is the seller ethically authorised to auction them?” He really wanted to highlight the historical context. According to him, “For historical reasons, the Sakyamuni clan was given the responsibility to take care of these relics” in order that they could be protected and kept for later veneration.
Ashley Thompson and Conan Cheong raised additional ethical concerns, like the question of whether human remains should be exchanged in the first place. “Other ethical questions raised by the sale are: should human remains be traded? And who gets to decide what are human remains or not?” they noted. Millions of Buddhists in Asia and beyond consider these jewels to be foundational. They insist that the gems are a critical component of both the bones and ash that compose the relics.
For all these concerns, Chris Peppé made no apologies about his decision to auction the Native American relics. He contended that an auction provides the most equitable and least arbitrary, not to mention transparent, process to return these relics to Buddhists. Don’t worry, he went on, Sotheby’s will totally pull this off. He, too, acknowledged the colonial past of what we now consider these artifacts. Though he felt the trauma of British colonization of India in a cultural sense, he opened himself up to the possibility and reality of individuals and communities who have been committed to a social and communal pursuit of knowledge.
Amal Abeyawardene was on point about the cultural importance of these historical treasures. He argued that “such rare and sacred relics that are unique and which define a land’s cultural history… deserve the government’s exceptional attention.” He referenced Buddhist teachings that emphasize respect for others’ possessions: “The Buddha teaches us not to take other people’s possessions without permission.”
As this auction approaches, views remain deeply contentious. Others view it as an opportunity to rescue and safeguard cultural heritage. Some see it as a form of cultural genocide, while others see it as a vehicle to commercialize sacred items.
Nicolas Chow, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, referred to this discovery one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in history. He said it is impossibly historic.
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