Around 770 CE, a Japanese empress ordered one million miniature Buddhist pagodas containing printed prayers; one survived for over 1,250 years and sold for $40,960, nearly 2.8 times its highest estimate

A remarkable miniature wooden pagoda tied to Empress Shotoku has been sold for an impressive $40,960, shattering expectations. This pagoda, which houses an ancient Buddhist prayer, marks a crucial moment in Japan’s printing history. Commissioned in 770 CE, it was crafted to help disseminate prayers throughout temples. At just 21.