National Treasures of Japan
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The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the government of Japan designates the most famous of the nation's cultural properties as National Treasures (国宝: kokuhō). Examples of the types of works that receive this designation are
- Buildings such as castles, temples, shrines
- Paintings, scrolls, sutras, and works of calligraphy
- Statues in stone, bronze, wood, lacquer or other materials
- Crafts, such as pottery, lacquer ware, carvings, metals, netsuke, swords and textiles
- Archeological and historical artifacts, including burial objects, documents, and letters
- People, called "Living National Treasures (人間国宝: ningen kokuhō)"
Many of Japan's national treasures are in museums such as the national museums in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara. The prefectural and city governments also operate public museums, and these and private museums also house national treasures. Many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, castles and similar installations also open their buildings and grounds to the public, and some have museums as well. The Imperial Household of Japan holds many national treasures. Kyoto boasts about one in five national treasures.
Living National Treasure is an informal designation for a person whom the government has recognized as exemplary in carrying on Japanese traditions. Performing artists in genres including noh, bunraku, and kabuki, and artists and artisans in traditional crafts, have received this distinction.
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[edit] Former and present national treasures
"National Treasure" has been used since 1897, though the term's pre-1950 and post-1950 significance is different. Japan has the most comprehensive network of legistlation for protecting, preserving, and classifying its cultural patrimony.[1]
- 1871 -- Law for Preservation of Ancient Artifacts.[2]
- 1897 -- Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Law (Koshaji hozon ho).[3]
- 1919 -- Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monuments Preservation Law.[3]
- 1929 -- National Treasures Preservation Law.[4]
- 1933 -- Law Regarding the Preservation of Important Works of Fine Arts.[5]
- 1950 -- Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[4]
- 1954 -- Amendments, Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[5]
- 1960 -- Ancient Capital Law.[6]
- 1968 -- Amendments, Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[5]
- 1975 -- Amendments, Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[6]
- 1992 -- World Heritage Convention.[6]
- 1996 -- Amendments, Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[5]
- 1999 -- Amendments, Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[5]
- 2004 -- Amendments, Law for Protection of Cultural Properties.[7]
- 2006 -- Law on the Promotion of International Cooperation for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad.[8]
Before 1950, all the state-designated cultural properties were called "National Treasures". At that time, 5,824 art works and 1,059 buildings were so designated. On August 29, 1950, the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties came into force, and all National Treasures became "Important Cultural Properties" (重要文化財: jūyō bunka zai). Some of them have been designated as new "National Treasures" since June 9, 1951.
[edit] The number of National Treasures of Japan
As of August 1, 2006, the numbers of national cultural properties are:
- National Treasures (arts and crafts): 860, of which there are:
- 233 in Tokyo
- 204 in Kyoto
- 143 in Nara
- 55 in Osaka
- 33 in Shiga prefectures
- National Treasures (structures): 213, of which there are:
- 64 in Nara
- 48 in Kyoto
- 22 in Shiga
- 11 in Hyogo
- 7 in Hiroshima and Wakayama Prefectures
| Prefecture | Building Structures | Art Works |
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | 0 | 0 |
| Aomori | 0 | 2 |
| Iwate | 1 | 7 |
| Miyagi | 3 | 3 |
| Akita | 0 | 1 |
| Yamagata | 1 | 4 |
| Fukushima | 1 | 2 |
| Ibaragi | 0 | 2 |
| Tochigi | 6 | 10 |
| Gunma | 0 | 0 |
| Saitama | 0 | 1 |
| Chiba | 0 | 8 |
| Tokyo | 1 | 233 |
| Kanagawa | 1 | 18 |
| Niigata | 0 | 1 |
| Toyama | 1 | 0 |
| Ishikawa | 0 | 3 |
| Fukui | 2 | 4 |
| Yamanashi | 2 | 3 |
| Nagano | 5 | 2 |
| Gifu | 3 | 3 |
| Shizuoka | 0 | 11 |
| Aichi | 3 | 6 |
| Mie | 0 | 4 |
| Shiga | 22 | 33 |
| Kyoto | 48 | 207 |
| Osaka | 5 | 55 |
| Hyogo | 11 | 9 |
| Nara | 64 | 143 |
| Wakayama | 7 | 29 |
| Tottori | 1 | 2 |
| Shimane | 2 | 2 |
| Okayama | 2 | 4 |
| Hiroshima | 7 | 12 |
| Yamaguchi | 3 | 6 |
| Tokushima | 0 | 0 |
| Kagawa | 2 | 4 |
| Ehime | 3 | 9 |
| Kochi | 1 | 1 |
| Fukuoka | 0 | 12 |
| Saga | 0 | 0 |
| Nagasaki | 3 | 0 |
| Kumamoto | 0 | 0 |
| Oita | 2 | 2 |
| Miyazaki | 0 | 0 |
| Kagoshima | 0 | 1 |
| Okinawa | 0 | 1 |
| *Total* | 213 | 860 |
Source: Database of National Cultural Properties, the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan.
[edit] Gallery
 Horyu-ji Golden Hall and Pagoda |
 Horyu-ji Yumedono |
 Himeji castle Grand Tower |
 Byodoin Phoenix Hall |
 Kiyomizudera temple Main Hall |
 Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace |
 Itsukushima Shrine Main Hall |
|
 Todai-ji temple Golden Hall |
 Yakushi-ji temple Eastern Tower |
 Nikko Toshogu Yomeimon Gate |
 KongouZanmaiin Tahoto Tower in Mt. Koya |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Hickman, Money et al. (2002). Japan's Golden Age: Momoyama, p. 15.
- ^ Coaldrake, William Howard. (1996). Architecture and Authority in Japan, p. 248.
- ^ a b UNESCO: Nara preservation
- ^ a b National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo: Kyoto preservation
- ^ a b c d e Japan, Agency for Cultural Affairs: "History of the Law for the Cultural Properties," pp. 6-7. Cultural Properties for Future Generations, 2007.
- ^ a b c National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo: Urban conservation
- ^ Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT): 2004 amendments, protecting cultural properties law
- ^ Japan, Agency for Cultural Affairs: "System for International Cooperation," p. 15. Cultural Properties for Future Generations, 2007.
[edit] References
- Coaldrake, William Howard. (1996). Architecture and Authority in Japan.] London: Routledge. 10-ISBN 0-415-05754-X; 13-ISBN 978-0-415-05754-7 (cloth) -- 19=0-ISBN 0-415-10601-X; 13-ISBN 978-0-415-10601-6 (paper)
- Hickman, Money L., John T Carpenter, and Bruce A Coats. (2002). Japan's Golden Age: Momoyama.] New Haven: Yale University Press. 10-ISBN 0-300-06897-2; 13-ISBN 978-0-300-06897-9 (cloth) -- 10-ISBN 0-300-09407-8; 13-ISBN 978-0-300-09407-7 (paper)
- Sickels-Taves, Lauren B. (1999). The Use of and Need for Preservation Standards in Architectural Conservation. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: ASTM. 10-ISBN 0-803-12606-9; 13-ISBN 978-0-803-12606-0 (cloth)
[edit] See also
- Living National Treasure (Japan)
- Important Intangible Cultural Properties
- Ernest Fenollosa (1853-1908), helped draft 1897 Ancient Shrines and Temples Protection Law
[edit] External links
