A collection of jeweled relics associated with the historical Buddha is set to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on 7 May, prompting debate over the ethics of commodifying sacred cultural artifacts.

The relics, unearthed in 1898 from a stupa in the village of Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, include pearls, rubies, sapphires, gold ornaments, and patterned sheets—part of a cache of nearly 1,800 items. They were discovered by British estate manager William Claxton Peppé during excavations near the border with Nepal, just south of Lumbini, believed to be birthplace of the Buddha.

The gems were found alongside bone fragments in an inscribed reliquary, which many archaeologists and historians have interpreted as confirming their association with the historical Buddha.

“This is among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time,” said Nicolas Chow, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia and worldwide head of Asian Art. (BBC News)

Prof. Ashley Thompson of SOAS University of London, and doctoral student Conan Cheong, both experts in Southeast Asian art, stated that the auction raised ethical concerns about the ownership of treasures “wrongfully acquired by European powers from South and Southeast Asia and Africa during the colonial era.” (Religion News Service)

For more than a century, the relics have remained in the private custody of the Peppé family, who say that only a small portion of the original find was retained with government permission. According to Sotheby’s, approximately one-fifth of the artifacts remained with the family after most of the material was handed over to the colonial Indian government and then distributed to museums and Buddhist leaders, including the king of Siam (Thailand).

Sotheby’s maintains that the sale is legal and consistent with industry norms.

“We conducted requisite due diligence, including in relation to authenticity and provenance, legality and other considerations in line with our policies and industry standards for artworks and treasures,” said Sotheby’s international specialist for Himalayan art, Julian King, emphasizing the transparency and rigor of the auction process. (BBC News)

The auction is led by Chris Peppé, great-grandson of William Peppé, who inherited the jewels in 2013. In a statement, he described the family’s efforts to donate the relics to temples or museums, but noted that each option presented insurmountable difficulties. “An auction seems the fairest and most transparent way to transfer these relics to Buddhists. We are confident Sotheby’s will achieve that.” (BBC News)

In recent years, the jewels have been exhibited at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The Peppé family has also created a website to document the historical background and share their research on the artifacts.

Scholars and cultural critics, however, have expressed alarm over what they describe as a continuation of colonial-era practices. Thompson and Cheong issued a joint statement questioning whether such sacred materials should be treated as marketable objects: “The Sotheby’s auction transforms these highly sacred materials into salable objects, continuing colonial acts of extraction.” (BBC News)

“The relics deposited in the stupa by members of the Buddha’s family clan, the Shakya, were considered the sharira of the Buddha. Sharira, often imperfectly translated as ‘relics,’ refers broadly to all remains of the Buddha’s body. There is no categorical difference between ‘bones and ash’ and ‘gems and stones’ here—both are ‘sharira.’” Thompson and Cheong added, asking: “Can human remains be legally traded in our day, who defines what constitutes ‘human remains,’ and how?” (Religion News Service)

Some Buddhist leaders echoed these concerns. “The Buddha teaches us not to take others’ possessions without permission,” noted Amal Abeyawardene of the British MahaBodhi Society in London. “These relics were meant to be venerated in perpetuity, not traded.” (BBC News)

Chris Peppé has challenged that view, asserting that in his experience, “no Buddhists regard these as corporeal relics,” and characterizing some academic arguments in favor of their sacred status as “fact-defying.” (BBC News)

The issue also raises broader questions of cultural patrimony. Comparisons have been drawn to the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a contested artifact taken during British colonial rule and now part of the British Crown Jewels. Delhi-based art historian Naman Ahuja, while not supporting broad repatriation, emphasized that certain sacred objects merited special treatment. “Such rare and sacred relics that define a land’s cultural history deserve exceptional attention,” he said. (BBC News)

India, home to approximately 8.5 million Buddhists, according to a 2021 survey, and with a growing interest in Buddhist heritage tourism, has issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s, calling on the auction house to immediately halt the auction plans and to cooperate with the Indian authorities. The notice was issued by India’s Ministry of Culture on 5 May. According to The Indian Express newspaper, Associate General Counsel Sotheby’s Ivy Wong has written to the Ministry of Culture to assure them that full attention will be given to the matter.

See more

Jewels linked to Buddha remains go to auction, sparking ethical debate (BBC News)
Auctioning the Buddha’s relics is perpetuating colonial violence (Religion News Service)
India steps in to stop Sotheby’s auction of sacred Buddhist relics (The Indian Express)
The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, Mauryan Empire, Ashokan era, circa 240-200 BC (Sotheby’s)
Auction of ancient Indian gems ‘imbued with presence of Buddha’ condemned (The Guardian)
Jewels linked to Buddha’s relic to be auctioned in Hong Kong (Phayul)

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