Shosoin

Located north-northwest of the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple in Nara Park, this is a large Shosoin (high-story warehouse) built in the schoolhouse style.

Built around 759, this storehouse of treasures still retains its original form and has been handed down to the present day without being damaged by war or natural disasters.

The treasury housed objects related to Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo, as well as arts and crafts from the Tenpyo culture (the aristocratic and Buddhist culture that flourished around the Nara capital, Heijo-kyo, until the middle of the 8th century).

More than 90% of the treasures were made in Japan and adopted exotic designs. However, many items were imported from China (Tang Dynasty), the Western Regions, and Persia, and the museum is said to be the eastern terminus of the Silk Road.

It is a major treasure trove of cultural assets, including paintings, calligraphy, metalwork, lacquerware, woodwork, swords, pottery, glassware, musical instruments, masks, and other ancient arts and crafts.

Once a year in the fall, the Shosoin Treasures are displayed to the public at the Shosoin Exhibition at the Nara National Museum.

Today, the treasures have been moved to a state-of-the-art treasury, so there is nothing inside the Shosoin, but the building itself is one of the most precious treasures.

With a hipped roof and tiled exterior, it measures approximately 33.1 meters in front, 9.3 meters in depth, and the pillars under the floor are approximately 2.5 meters high.

Prior to the Edo period, it was managed by Todaiji under the supervision of the Imperial Court, but in 1875, in view of the importance of the treasures in the collection, it was placed under the control of the Ministry of the Interior, and is now managed by the Imperial Household Agency.

Shosoin was originally the name given to a part of the main warehouse of the imperial court, but today it refers only to the premises of Todaiji Temple.