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36-511: The construction of the Tōdai-ji Buddhist temple complex was ordained by Emperor Shōmu as part of a national project of Buddhist temple construction. During the Tempyō period, the years during which Emperor Shōmu reigned, multiple disasters struck Japan as well as political uproar and epidemics. Because of these reasons Emperor Shōmu launched a project of provincial temples. The Tōdai-ji

72-642: A Buddhist nation. In addition he commissioned the observance of the ohigan holiday for both spring and autumnal equinox . Emperor Shōmu died at age 56. The actual site of Shōmu's grave is known. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine ( misasagi ) at Nara. The Imperial Household Agency designates this location as Shōmu's mausoleum . It is formally named Sahoyama no minami no misasagi . The tomb site can be visited today in Horenji-cho, Tenri City near Nara City . The Imperial tomb of Shōmu's consort, Empress Kōmyō ,

108-613: A phenomenon of nature with which Japan was already well acquainted during the Nara period . The Shōsō-in is also the only building to survive the Siege of Nara in the Heian period . The exact construction date is unclear, but construction works probably started soon after the empress's bequest in AD 756 and definitely were finished before AD 759, when the bequest items storage lists were complete. Since

144-488: A temporary palace. One of his generals was left in command of the capital. Presumably Shōmu feared Fujiwara supporters in Nara and was hoping to quell potential uprisings in other parts of the country with his presence. After four days travelling through heavy rain and thick mud, the party reached Kawaguchi on Tenpyō 12 11th month, 2nd day (25 November, 740) A couple of days later, they learn of Hirotsugu's execution and that

180-517: A year in autumn. The objects and treasures that have been stored in the Shōsō-in can be divided into the following categories. Generally considered separate from the treasures, the Shōsōin also preserved more than 10,000 documents, mostly from an eighth-century scriptorium . These documents contain diverse materials including censuses, tax records, and poetry. The vast majority of documents, however, record

216-458: Is located nearby. The Shōsō-in (正倉院) is the treasure house of Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. It houses about 9.000 artifacts connected to Emperor Shōmu (701–756) and Empress Kōmyō (701–760), as well as arts and crafts of the Tempyō era of Japanese history. Its general importance derives from the fact, that it may be called an ark of Tang dynasty period cultural relics from Japan as well as from

252-463: Is not traditionally listed. Nara National Museum The Nara National Museum ( 奈良国立博物館 , Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan ) is one of the pre-eminent national art museums in Japan . The Nara National Museum is located in Nara , which was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. Katayama Tōkuma (1854–1917) designed the original building, which is a representative Western-style building of

288-906: The Kogogushiki ; and this bureaucratic innovation continued into the Heian period. While battle maneuvers of the Fujiwara no Hirotsugu Rebellion were still underway, in Tenpyō 12 10th month (November, 740) Emperor Shōmu left the capital at Heijō-kyō ( Nara ) and traveled eastward via Horikoshi (堀越頓宮; today Tsuge ; 10th month, 29th day: November 22), Nabari (10th month, 30th day: November 23), Ao (安保頓宮; today Aoyama  ; 11th month 1st day: November 24) to Kawaguchi in Ichishi District , Ise Province (today part of Tsu , formerly part of Hakusan ) where he retreated together with his court to

324-586: The Meiji period and has been designated an Important Cultural Property in Japan. Junzō Yoshimura (1908–1997) designed a supplemental building in 1973. The museum is noted for its collection of Buddhist art, including images, sculpture, and altar articles. The museum houses and displays works of art belonging to temples and shrines in the Nara area. Properties kept in the Shōsōin repository are exhibited each year in

360-788: The Vairocana Buddha (the Daibutsu ) in Tōdai-ji of Nara . At the time, this was such a massive undertaking that later chroniclers accuse him of having completely exhausted the country's reserves of bronze and precious metals . In 752, the Shōmu held the Eye-opening Ceremony of the Great Buddha. Earlier in 741, he established the system of provincial temples , making this the closest anyone ever came to declaring Japan

396-780: The Shoso-in Treasure House, which is responsible for the administration of the repository, has been producing exact reproduction of ancient Nara textiles. Apart from the appearance and colour, care has been given to reproduce the production and weaving style. The silk is donated each year by Empress Masako , who personally runs the Momijiyama Imperial Cocoonery at Tokyo Imperial Palace . 34°41′31″N 135°50′19″E  /  34.69194°N 135.83861°E  / 34.69194; 135.83861 Emperor Sh%C5%8Dmu Emperor Shōmu ( 聖武天皇 , Shōmu-tennō , September 22, 701 – June 4, 756)

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432-420: The Shōsō-in was to be a repository for (valuable) objects, it was constructed to create a natural climate regulation system. This natural climate regulation system was created by elevating the floor to a height of 2.7 m. This made circulation of air underneath the building possible and protected the structure against humidity at the same time. In addition to this, during the first few decades after its construction,

468-874: The West wing began on the hall on 18 December 1970 and was completed on 31 March 1972. The East Wing was inaugurated in October 1997 and opened in April 1998. An architectural style of the East Wing is congruent to the West Wing. The Lower-Level Passageway joins the East and West Wings with the Original Museum Building and houses the Museum Shop and a Lounge & Restaurant. The exhibit cases on both sides

504-748: The administration of the Imperial Household Agency . It is on the UNESCO register of World Heritage Sites as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara . It is also a National Treasure of Japan . The building is in the Azekura Zukuri log-cabin style, with a floor raised to about 2.5 m takayuka-shiki ( 高床式 ) . This is an architectural style that was mainly used for the construction of granaries and storehouses. Some distinctive features of this building style are

540-481: The autumn. In the museum's collection is the 12th-century Hell Scroll (Nara National Museum) ( 地獄草紙 ) , 11th or 12th-century mandala Jōdo mandara-zu, and the 9th-century sculpture of the seated Buddha Yakushi . The Nara National Museum was established in 1889 as the Imperial Nara Museum (帝国奈良博物館) . The Nara National Museum held its first exhibition in 1895. As prehistory to the opening, there

576-507: The continent: furniture, games, music instruments, clothing/accessories, weaponry, buddhist objects and pieces of writing. See main entry . Kugyō ( 公卿 ) is a collective term for the very few most powerful men attached to the court of the Emperor of Japan in pre- Meiji eras . In general, this elite group included only three to four men at a time. These were hereditary courtiers whose experience and background would have brought them to

612-449: The day-to-day record keeping of a sutra copying office active, albeit under a number of different names, between 727–776. The collection is perhaps unparalleled globally as a tightly focused eighth-century archival collection of manuscripts. The documents were first rediscovered in the 1830s by an antiquarian scholar named Hoida Tadatomo. Hoida and his successors peeled individual sheets apart and reassembled them into new scrolls, disrupting

648-571: The fine arts and crafts in the Shōsōin were produced in Japan around the 8th century, with the remainder imported from the Tang Dynasty, Central Asia, India, Iran, etc. during the same period. The designs of these Japanese and East Asian treasures show Iranian, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian influences due to cultural exchange via the Silk Road. Although these collections are not open to the public, selections are shown at Nara National Museum once

684-572: The hills and near a river north of Nara, Kuni was easily defensible. In addition, the area was linked with the Minister of the Right, Tachibana no Moroe, while Nara was a center of the Fujiwara clan. On Tenpyō 12 12th month, 15 day (6 January, 741) Shōmu proclaimed a new capital at Kuni-kyō . Shōmu, a devout Buddhist, is best remembered for commissioning, in 743, the sixteen-meter high statue of

720-489: The original organization of the documents. Print versions of most of the documents were published in the first twenty-five volumes of Dai Nihon komonjo beginning in 1901. Subsequent scholarship has allowed scholars to better understand how the scrolls were originally configured. They have also been digitized and are now publicly available for viewing. Since 1994, the Imperial Household Agency's Office of

756-564: The passageway contain models and illustrations explaining the construction of Buddhist sculpture. Visitors do not need museum admission tickets to enter this 150 meter-long corridor. The area serves as a rest and relaxation place for museum visitors and the general public. The Research Center for Buddhist Art was established in April 1980 for the collection, organization, and storage of books, replicas, rubbings, photographs, and other archival and research materials related to Buddhist art. The center's library and photographic archives have been open to

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792-503: The pinnacle of a life's career. During Shōmu's reign, this apex of the Daijō-kan included: The years of Shōmu's reign are more specifically identified by more than one era name or nengō . [REDACTED] Media related to Emperor Shomu at Wikimedia Commons Unless otherwise noted (as BC), years are in CE  / AD   Imperial Consort and Regent Empress Jingū

828-526: The public since May 1989, primarily as a resource for researchers. The Japanese tea ceremony house " Hassoan (八窓庵) " in the inner garden of the Nara National Museum was originally built on the grounds of Daijo-in , a sub-temple of Kōfuku-ji Temple. Also known as Gansuitei, the tea house was built in the middle Edo period . It is well known for its many windows, a favorite style of the tea connoisseur Furuta Oribe (1544–1615). Together with

864-619: The rebellion had been quelled. Despite the good news, Shōmu did not return to Heijō-kyō immediately, but stayed in Kawaguchi until Tenpyō 12 11th month, 11th day (4 December, 740). He continued his journey east, then north via Mino Province and back west along the shores of Lake Biwa to Kuni in Yamashiro Province (today in Kizugawa ) which he reached on Tenpyō 12 12th month, 15th day (6 January, 741). Places passed along

900-426: The roof. In order to preserve the tea house in Nara for future generations, Nara residents successfully petitioned for Hassoan to be given to the Imperial Nara Museum in 1890. Hassoan was moved onto the museum grounds in 1892. The Conservation Center, opened in 2002, was established to rescue, examine, document, conserve, and restore National Treasures and other key cultural properties. Restorers specializing in

936-538: The tea houses Rokusoan (六窓庵) in the Kōfuku-ji , and Okiroku (隠岐録) in the Tōdai-ji , Hassoan is considered one of the Three Great Tea Houses of Nara. Hassoan contains a tea room of four tatami mats with a tokonoma . It is built in the rustic style, including a hipped and gabled, thatched roof. Inside, the ceiling is partially covered with rush, while other areas reveal the finished underside of

972-540: The treasures in perfect state. The Shōsō-in today holds around 9,000 items, excluding items that are yet to be classified. The treasures that were donated by Empress Kōmyō were stored in the Hoku Sō, the Northern part of the Shōsōin. From the very beginning, this part of the Shōsō-in has been sealed by the imperial family. One was permitted to enter only with explicit permission of the imperial family. Ninety-five percent of

1008-500: The triangular beams of the Japanese cypress might have functioned as a natural regulator of humidity and temperature. The artefacts themselves were stored away in chests made from cedar wood, which is known for its durability. These chests were 90–110 cm long, 60–70 cm wide and 40–50 cm high. Not only the building itself but also these chests were elevated from the ground. All these adjustments made it possible to preserve

1044-415: The triangular, wooden beams that come together in the corners, as well as the fact that it was assembled without using any bolts nor nails. This could be slightly surprising for its height of 14 m, width of 33 m and depth of about 9.3 m. However, it was a logical and smart step. As a result of assembling the storehouse without bolts or nails, the structure became very flexible and able to withstand earthquakes,

1080-701: The way included Akasaka (赤坂頓宮; today Suzuka ; 11th m. 14th d.: Dec 7）, Asake district (朝明郡; today Yokkaichi ; 11th m. 20th d.: Dec 13）, Ishiura (石占頓宮; today Tado ; 11th m. 25th d.: Dec 18）, Tagi district (当伎郡; today Yōrō ; 11th m. 26th d.: Dec 19）, Fuwa (不破頓宮; today Tarui ; 12th m. 1st d.: Dec 23）, Yokokawa (横川頓宮; today Santō or Maihara ; 12th m. 6th d.: Dec 28), Inukami (犬上頓宮; today Hikone ; 12th m. 7th d.: Dec 29）, Gamō district (蒲生郡; today near Yōkaichi ; 12th m. 9th d.: Dec 31）, Yasu (野洲頓宮; today Yasu or Moriyama ; 12th m. 10th d.: Jan 1）, Awazu (禾津頓宮; today Ōtsu ; 12th m. 11th d.： Jan 2）, Tamanoi (玉井頓宮; today Yamashina-ku, Kyoto ; 12th m. 14th d.）. Situated among

1116-481: Was a Nara exhibition. In 1874, Nara exhibition company of semi-governmental management was established by the then Nara governor Fujii Chihiro . The museum was renamed the Imperial Household Museum of Nara. It has been known by its present name since 1952. The growth and development of today's museum has been an evolving process: The Original Museum Building was designed by Katayama Tōkuma who

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1152-428: Was appointed as the head temple of these provincial temples. Emperor Shōmu was a strong supporter of Buddhism and he thought it would strengthen his central authority as well. The origin of Tōdai-ji 's Shōsō-in repository itself dates back to 756, when Empress Kōmyō dedicated over 600 items to the Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji to express her love for her lost husband, Emperor Shōmu, who died 49 days earlier. Her donation

1188-491: Was architect for the Imperial Household Agency. This building was completed in 1894, and is built in the French Renaissance style. Noted especially for the decorative ornamentation around its West Entrance, it is an example of middle Meiji-period European architecture. This exhibition hall was designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government in 1969. Designed by Junzō Yoshimura. Construction of

1224-547: Was made over five times across several years, then stored at the Shōsō-in. During the Heian period , a large number of treasures, consisting of items and instruments used in important Buddhist services were transferred from a different warehouse called the Kensakuin to the Tōdai-ji . After the Meiji Restoration , it came under the administration of the national government , and since World War II has been under

1260-477: Was still a child at the time of his father's death; thus, his grandmother, Empress Gemmei , and aunt, Empress Gensho , occupied the throne before he acceded. Shōmu continued to reside in the Hezei Palace. Shōmu is known as the first emperor whose consort was not born into the imperial household. His consort Kōmyō was a non-royal Fujiwara commoner. A ritsuryō office was created for the queen-consort,

1296-574: Was the 45th emperor of Japan , according to the traditional order of succession . Shōmu's reign spanned the years 724 through 749, during the Nara period . Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne , his personal name ( imina ) is not clearly known, but he was known as Oshi-hiraki Toyosakura-hiko-no-mikoto. Shōmu was the son of Emperor Monmu and Fujiwara no Miyako, a daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito . Shōmu had five consorts and six Imperial sons and daughters. Shōmu

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