Qian Chu (929–988) was the king of Wuyue. He commissioned this small bronze stupa as part of a large set emulating the legendary 84,000 stupas produced in India by Emperor Aśoka (ca. 304–232 BCE). The summit features projecting leaf-shaped decorations at the four corners, and all four sides show scenes from tales of the Buddha’s past lives (Skt. jātaka) cast in relief. 
Object label 

It was reported that this is one of the small votive stupas which were made by the order of Qian Hongchu, the King of Wu-yue, during the period of Five Dynasties in China. By having these votive stupas made, he followed the example of King Ashōka (Ásoka), who had eighty-four thousand votive stupas made. At the four corners of the upper part of the stupa, ornaments in the shape of Chinese banana leaves are fixed and a sōrin-spire is mounted at the center. This type of stupa is old and precedes stupas of the hōkyō-in type. Hōkyō-in type stupas were usually made of stones and were popular in Japan.
Casted scenes from Jātaka (Biography of Śākyamuni or Buddha before he was born), which reflect the Indian taste are depicted on the surfaces of the four sides of the stupa-body. It is known from the carved inscription within the stupa that the King Qian Hongchu had eighty-four thousand stupas made in 955. It is reported that the Hōkyō-in-kyo sutra (Karaṇḍa-mudrā-dhāraṇi) was hung from the hook which is inside of the stupa introduced in this article. 
Masterpieces of Nara National Museum. Nara National Museum, 1993, p.106, no.81.