List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts: others)
Treasures -- Lacquer
Table:
Name

Remarks

Date

Type

Present location

Image

Octagonal Buddhist platform with mother of pearl inlay (螺鈿八角須弥壇, raden hakkaku shumidan)[91]

Struts decorated with bells and canopy; top and bottom with pestle and flower pattern; foliate panels (格狭間, kōzama) framed with gilt bronze border; eight Karyobinga (winged female angels) on each panel holding a percussion instrument (on front panel) or flower pots (on other panels)

0794Heian period

Platform; lacquered wood with mother of pearl inlay, gold and silver; height: 52.4 cm (20.6 in), diameter: 193.9 cm (76.3 in), side length : 74.5 cm (29.3 in)

Iwate Hiraizumi ChusonjiChūson-ji, Hiraizumi, Iwate

Sutra box with maki-e hōsōge motif (宝相華蒔絵経箱, hōsōge makie kyōbako)

With arabesque pattern of hōsōge flowers

1100Heian period, around 1100

Sutra box; black lacquered wood, rough maki-e; 20.3 cm × 17.0 cm (8.0 in × 6.7 in)

Shiga Otsu EnryakujiEnryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga

—

Sutra Box with Lotus Arabesques (蓮唐草蒔絵経箱, hasu karakusa makie kyōbako)[92][93]

Arabesque lotus flower design and butterflies in maki-e

1100Heian period, 12th century

Sutra box; black lacquered leather, maki-e; 31.8 × 17.6 × 12.1 cm (12.5 × 6.9 × 4.8 in)

Nara Nara Nara National MuseumNara National Museum, Nara, Nara

—

Kesa box (海賦蒔絵袈裟箱, kaibu makie kesabako)[94][95]

Box in which a kesa brought back from Tang Dynasty China by Kūkai was stored; decorated with a sea motif: marine animals (fish, birds, turtles) in gold and waves in silver maki-e

0900Heian period, 10th century, before 940

Kesa box; lacquered hinoki wood, togidashi (burnished) maki-e; 7.9 × 39.1 × 11.5 cm (3.1 × 15.4 × 4.5 in)

Kyoto Kyoto TojiTō-ji, Kyoto

shitannuri raden kondōsō shariren (紫檀塗螺鈿金銅装舎利輦)

Palanquin similar to a mikoshi used in the sharie (舎利会) ceremony (dedication of the bones of Buddha)

0794Heian period

Palanquin; black lacquered rosewood, mother of pearl inlay

Kyoto Kyoto TojiTō-ji, Kyoto

—

Sutra box with maki-e decorations (仏功徳蒔絵経箱, butsukudoku makie kyōbako)[96]

Box for eight scrolls of the Lotus Sutra; decorated with five scenes from the lotus sutra in maki-e

1000Heian period, around 1000

Sutra box; black lacquer on thin wood, gold and silver maki-e; 23.7 × 32.7 × 16.7 cm (9.3 × 12.9 × 6.6 in)

Osaka Osaka Fujita Art MuseumFujita Art Museum, Osaka

Jewel box with maki-e hōsōge motif (宝相華蒔絵宝珠箱, hōsōge makie hōjubako)[97]

Decorated with hōsōge flowers, phoenix (chicken) and cranes on the outside and the Four Heavenly Kings inside

0794early Heian period

Jewel box; lacquer, maki-e

Kyoto Kyoto NinnajiNinna-ji, Kyoto

—

Tamamushi Shrine (玉虫厨子, tamamushi no zushi, "Beetle wing Shrine")[98]

Decorated with paintings, lotus petal mouldings and embossed figures of Buddhas

0600Asuka period, 7th century

Miniature shrine; camphor and cypress wood; height: 226.6 cm (89.2 in)

Nara Ikaruga HoryujiHōryū-ji, Ikaruga, Nara

Black lacquer table with mother of pearl inlay (黒漆螺鈿卓, kokushitsu radenshoku)[99]

Incense burner, candlestick and other items were placed on this table in front of the spirit of the deceased

1150Heian period, mid 12th century

Table; black lacquer, mother of pearl inlay

Nara Ikaruga HoryujiHōryū-ji, Ikaruga, Nara

—

Taima Mandala shrine (当麻曼荼羅厨子, taima mandara no zushi)

Decorations of lotus lake (door panels), celestial musicians (underside of roof), butterflies, ducks, cranes, pheasants, wild geese (inside); hōsōge flowers on the ceiling; used to store a Taima Mandala

0794Heian period

Miniature shrine; wood

Nara Nara TaimaderaTaima-dera, Nara, Nara

Sutra box decorated with Kurikara Dragon in maki-e (倶利伽羅竜蒔絵経箱, kurikararyū makie kyōbako)[100]

Lid decorated with Kurikara dragon flanked by two attendants: Kongara Dōji (矜羯羅童子) and Seitaka Dōji (制た迦童子)

0794Heian period

Sutra box; black lacquer, maki-e; 31 cm × 19 cm (12.2 in × 7.5 in)

Nara Nara TaimaderaTaima-dera, Nara, Nara

Looking at the provided table along with the passages listed at the end.

Respond to the question below: What date were the national treasures made that are quite detailed , sometimes with repetition ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}.

Kalaviṅka ( Sanskrit : कलविङ्क kalaviṅka ; Chinese : 迦陵頻伽 Jiālíngpínqié ; Japanese : Karyōbinga ( 迦陵頻伽 ) , Korean : 가릉빈가 ; Vietnamese : Ca Lăng Tần Già ; Burmese : ကရဝိက် ; Thai : การเวก , Malay : karawek ) is a fantastical immortal creature in Buddhism , with a human head and a bird 's torso , with long flowing tail . The kalaviṅka is said to dwell in the Western pure land and reputed to preach the Dharma with its fine voice . It is said to sing while still unhatched within its eggshell . [ citation needed ] Its voice is a descriptor of the Buddha 's voice . In Japanese text , it goes by various titles such as myōonchō ( 妙音鳥 , exquisite sounding bird ) , kōonchō ( 好音鳥 , goodly sounding bird ) among others . Edward H. Schafer notes that in East Asian religious art the Kalaviṅka is often confused with the Kinnara , which is also a half-human half-bird hybrid mythical creature , but that the two are actually distinct and unrelated .
The Heian period ( 平安時代 , Heian jidai ) is the last division of classical Japanese history , running from 794 to 1185 . The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō , or modern Kyōto . It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism , Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height . The Heian period is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art , especially poetry and literature . Although the Imperial House of Japan had power on the surface , the real power was in the hands of the Fujiwara clan , a powerful aristocratic family who had intermarried with the imperial family . Many emperors actually had mothers from the Fujiwara family . Heian ( 平安 ) means peace in Japanese .
Nacre ( /ˈneɪkər/ NAY-kər also /ˈnækrə/ NAK-rə ) , also known as mother of pearl , is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer ; it is also the material of which pearls are composed . It is strong , resilient , and iridescent . Nacre is found in some of the most ancient lineages of bivalves , gastropods , and cephalopods . However , the inner layer in the great majority of mollusc shells is porcellaneous , not nacreous , and this usually results in a non-iridescent shine , or more rarely in non-nacreous iridescence such as flame structure as is found in conch pearls . The outer layer of cultured pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre . Other mollusc families that have a nacreous inner shell layer include marine gastropods such as the Haliotidae , the Trochidae and the Turbinidae .
Chūson-ji ( 中尊寺 ) is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture , Japan . It is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku region of northern Honshu . The temple claims it was founded in 850 by Ennin , the third chief abbot of the sect . George Sansom states Chūson-ji was founded by Fujiwara no Kiyohira in 1095 . Chūson-ji is designated as a Special Historic Site and in June 2011 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of the Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi .
Hiraizumi ( 平泉町 , Hiraizumi-chō ) is a town located in Nishiiwai District , Iwate Prefecture , Japan . As of 1 June 2019 [ update ] , the town had an estimated population of 7,440 and a population density of 117 persons per km² in 2,648 households . The total area of the town was 63.39 km² . It is noted for the Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi , which achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2011 .
Iwate Prefecture ( 岩手県 , Iwate-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu . Iwate Prefecture has a population of 1,229,432 ( 1 June 2019 ) and is the second-largest prefecture at 15,275 km² ( 5,897 sq mi ) . Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north , Akita Prefecture to the west , and Miyagi Prefecture to the south . Morioka is the capital and largest city of Iwate Prefecture , with other major cities including Ichinoseki , Ōshū , and Hanamaki . Iwate Prefecture is located on Japan 's Pacific Ocean coast and features the easternmost point of Honshu at Cape Todo . Iwate Prefecture shares the highest peaks of the Ōu Mountains , the longest mountain range in Japan , at the border with Akita Prefecture . Iwate Prefecture is home to famous attractions such as Morioka Castle , the Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi including Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji , the Fujiwara no Sato movie lot and theme park in Ōshū , and the Tenshochi park in Kitakami known for its big , old cherry trees . Iwate Prefecture has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido and 5% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks .
Sutra ( Sanskrit : सूत्र , romanized : sūtra , lit . 'string , thread ' ) in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or , more broadly , a condensed manual or text . Sutras are a genre of ancient and medieval Indian texts found in Hinduism , Buddhism and Jainism . In Hinduism , sutras are a distinct type of literary composition , a compilation of short aphoristic statements . Each sutra is any short rule , like a theorem distilled into few words or syllables , around which teachings of ritual , philosophy , grammar , or any field of knowledge can be woven . The oldest sutras of Hinduism are found in the Brahmana and Aranyaka layers of the Vedas . Every school of Hindu philosophy , Vedic guides for rites of passage , various fields of arts , law , and social ethics developed respective sutras , which help teach and transmit ideas from one generation to the next . In Buddhism , sutras , also known as suttas , are canonical scriptures , many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings of Gautama Buddha . They are not aphoristic , but are quite detailed , sometimes with repetition . This may reflect a philological root of sukta ( well spoken ) , rather than sutra ( thread ) . In Jainism , sutras also known as suyas are canonical sermons of Mahavira contained in the Jain Agamas as well as some later ( post-canonical ) normative texts .
Maki-e ( 蒔絵 , literally : sprinkled picture ) is Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder as a decoration using a makizutsu or a kebo brush . The oldest Maki-e in existence now is the ornamentation on the sheath of the Kara-tachi sword with gilded silver fittings and inlay in Togidashi technique held by Shōsōin in Nara , Japan . Originally the sword was treasured by the Emperor Shōmu ( 701 - June 4 , 756 ) The technique was developed mainly in the Heian period ( 794-1185 ) and blossomed in the Edo period ( 1603-1868 ) . Maki-e objects were initially designed as household items for court nobles ; they soon gained more popularity and were adopted by royal families and military leaders as a symbol of power . To create different colours and textures , maki-e artists use a variety of metal powders including gold , silver , copper , brass , lead , aluminum , platinum , and pewter , as well as their alloys . Bamboo tubes and soft brushes of various sizes are used for laying powders and drawing fine lines . As it requires highly skilled craftsmanship to produce a maki-e painting , young artists usually go through many years of training to develop the skills and to ultimately become maki-e masters . Kōami Dōchō ( 1410-1478 ) was the first lacquer master linked to specific works . His maki-e works used designs from various Japanese contemporary painters . Kōami and another maki-e master , Igarashi Shinsai , were originators of the two major schools of lacquer-making in the history of Japan . Takamakie ( or raised maki-e ) is one of the three major techniques in maki-e making . Developed in the Muromachi period ( 1336-1573 ) , the technique of takamakie involves building up design patterns above the surface through a mixture of metal powder , lacquer , and charcoal or clay dust .
Enryaku-ji ( 延暦寺 , Enryaku-ji ) is a Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei in Ōtsu , overlooking Kyoto . It was founded in 788 during the early Heian period ( 794-1185 ) . The temple complex was established by Saichō ( 767-822 ) , also known as Dengyō Daishi , who introduced the Tendai sect of Mahayana Buddhism to Japan from China . Enryaku-ji is the headquarters of the Tendai sect and one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history . As such , it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ( Kyoto , Uji and Otsu Cities ) . The founders of Jōdo-shū , Sōtō Zen , and Nichiren Buddhism all spent time at the monastery . Enryaku-ji is also the center for the practice of kaihōgyō ( aka the marathon monks ) .
Ōtsu ( 大津市 , Ōtsu-shi ) is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture , Japan . Ōtsu is known as the main port of Lake Biwa , the largest lake in Japan . It briefly served as the capital of Japan from 667 to 672 AD during the Asuka period ( 538 - 710 ) . The city is home to numerous sites of historical importance , notably the temples of Mii-dera , Ishiyama-dera , and Enryaku-ji and the Hiyoshi Taisha shrine . Enryaku-ji is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto ( Kyoto , Uji and Otsu Cities ) . Ōtsu was incorporated as a town on April 1 , 1889 . In October 1 , 1898 , Ōtsu-town was officially changed to Ōtsu-city . As of October 1 , 2017 , the city has an estimated population of 341,187 and a population density of 730 persons per km2 . The total area is 464.51 km2 ( 179 sq mi ) .
Shiga Prefecture ( 滋賀県 , Shiga-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 ( 1 October 2015 ) and has a geographic area of 4,017 km² ( 1,551 sq mi ) . Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north , Gifu Prefecture to the northeast , Mie Prefecture to the southeast , and Kyoto Prefecture to the west . Ōtsu is the capital and largest city of Shiga Prefecture , with other major cities including Kusatsu , Nagahama , and Higashiōmi . Shiga Prefecture encircles Lake Biwa , the largest freshwater lake in Japan , and 37% of the total land area is designated as Natural Parks , the highest of any prefecture . Shiga Prefecture 's southern half is located adjacent to the former capital city of Kyoto and forms part of Greater Kyoto , the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Japan . Shiga Prefecture is home to Ōmi beef , the Eight Views of Ōmi , and Hikone Castle , one of four national treasure castles in Japan .
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 .
Nara ( 奈良市 , Nara-shi , Japanese : [ naꜜɾa ] ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture located in the Kansai region of Japan . The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture , bordering Kyoto Prefecture . Eight temples , shrines , and ruins in Nara remain : specifically Tōdai-ji , Saidai-ji , Kōfuku-ji , Kasuga Shrine , Gangō-ji , Yakushi-ji , Tōshōdai-ji , and the Heijō Palace , together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest , collectively form Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . During the Nara period , Nara was the capital of Japan , and the Emperor lived there before moving the capital to Kyoto .
Nara Prefecture ( 奈良県 , Nara-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu . Nara Prefecture has a population of 1,348,930 ( 1 September 2017 ) and has a geographic area of 3,691 km² ( 1,425 sq mi ) . Nara Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the north , Osaka Prefecture to the northwest , Wakayama Prefecture to the southwest , and Mie Prefecture to the east . Nara is the capital and largest city of Nara Prefecture , with other major cities including Kashihara , Ikoma , and Yamatokōriyama . Nara Prefecture is located in the center of the Kii Peninsula on Japan 's Pacific Ocean coast , and is one of only eight landlocked prefectures . Nara Prefecture has the distinction of having more UNESCO World Heritage listings than any other prefecture in Japan .
Kāṣāya are the robes of fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns , named after a brown or saffron dye . In Sanskrit and Pali , these robes are also given the more general term cīvara , which references the robes without regard to color .
Kāṣāya are the robes of fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns , named after a brown or saffron dye . In Sanskrit and Pali , these robes are also given the more general term cīvara , which references the robes without regard to color .
The Tang dynasty ( /tɑːŋ/ ; Chinese : 唐朝 [ a ] ) or the Tang Empire was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 , with an interregnum between 690 and 705 . It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history . Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilization , and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture . Tang territory , acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers , rivaled that of the Han dynasty . The Tang capital at Chang'an ( present-day Xi'an ) was the most populous city in the world in its day . The Lǐ family ( 李 ) founded the dynasty , seizing power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire . The dynasty was interrupted for 15 years when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne , proclaiming the Wu Zhou dynasty and becoming the only legitimate Chinese empress regnant . In two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries , the Tang records estimated the population by number of registered households at about 50 million people . Yet , even when the central government was breaking down and unable to compile an accurate census of the population in the 9th century , it is estimated that the population had grown by then to about 80 million people . [ b ] With its large population base , the dynasty was able to raise professional and conscripted armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inner Asia and the lucrative trade-routes along the Silk Road . Various kingdoms and states paid tribute to the Tang court , while the Tang also conquered or subdued several regions which it indirectly controlled through a protectorate system . Besides political hegemony , the Tang also exerted a powerful cultural influence over neighboring East Asian states such as those in Japan and Korea .
Kūkai ( 空海 ) , also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi ( 弘法大師 , The Grand Master Who Propagated the Buddhist Teaching ) , 774-835 , was a Japanese Buddhist monk , civil servant , scholar , poet , and artist who founded the Esoteric Shingon or mantra school of Buddhism . Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific title of Odaishisama ( お大師様 ) and the religious name of Henjō-Kongō ( 遍照金剛 ) . Kūkai is famous as a calligrapher and engineer . In legend he is attributed with the invention of the kana syllabary , with which the Japanese language is written to this day ( in combination with kanji ) , as well as the Iroha poem , which helped to standardise and popularise kana .
Chamaecyparis obtusa ( Japanese cypress , hinoki cypress or hinoki ; Japanese : 檜 or 桧 hinoki ) is a species of cypress native to central Japan , and widely cultivated in the temperate northern hemisphere for its high quality timber and ornamental qualities , with many cultivars commercially available .
Tō-ji ( 東寺 , Tō-ji ) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku ward of Kyoto , Japan . Founded in 796 , it was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan . As such it has a long history , housing treasures and documents from the early Heian period and the Tang dynasty , and with buildings in its complex covering the Kamakura , Muromachi , Momoyama , and Edo periods . Five of these buildings have been designated National Treasures in two different categories : the Lotus Flower Gate ( rengemon ) , the Miei Hall ( mieidō ) , the Golden Hall ( kondō ) and the five-storied Pagoda ( gojūnotō ) ( temple buildings ) and the Kanchiin Guest Hall ( kanchiin kyakuden ) ( residences ) . Tō-ji was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 , as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto .
Kyoto ( /kiˈoʊtoʊ , ˈkjoʊtoʊ/ ; 京都 Kyōto , Japanese : [ kʲoꜜːto ] ( listen ) ) , officially Kyoto City ( 京都市 , Kyōto-shi , Japanese : [ kʲoːtoꜜɕi ] ( listen ) ) , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan . Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu , Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe . As of 2018 , the city had a population of 1.47 million . In 794 , Kyoto ( then known as Heian-kyō ) was chosen as the new seat of Japan 's imperial court . The Emperors of Japan ruled from Kyoto in the following eleven centuries until 1869 , when the court relocated to Tokyo . The city was devastated during the Ōnin War in the 15th century and went into an extended period of decline , but gradually revived under the Tokugawa shogunate ( 1600-1868 ) and flourished as a major city in Japan . The modern municipality of Kyoto was established in 1889 . The city was spared from large-scale destruction during World War II and as a result , its prewar cultural heritage has mostly been preserved . Kyoto is considered the cultural capital of Japan and a major tourist destination . It is home to numerous Buddhist temples , Shinto shrines , palaces and gardens , many of which are listed collectively by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . Prominent landmarks include the Kyoto Imperial Palace , Kiyomizu-dera , Kinkaku-ji , Ginkaku-ji and the Katsura Imperial Villa . Kyoto is also a center of higher learning , with Kyoto University being an institution of international renown .
A mikoshi ( 神輿 ) is a sacred religious palanquin ( also translated as portable Shinto shrine ) . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine . Often , the mikoshi resembles a miniature building , with pillars , walls , a roof , a veranda and a railing . Often the Japanese honorific prefix o- ( お ) is added , making omikoshi ( お神輿 ) .
The Lotus Sūtra ( Sanskrit : Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra , literally Sūtra on the White Lotus of the Sublime Dharma ) is one of the most popular and influential Mahayana sutras , and the basis on which the Tiantai , Tendai , Cheontae , and Nichiren schools of Buddhism were established . According to British professor Paul Williams , For many East Asian Buddhists since early times , the Lotus Sutra contains the final teaching of the Buddha , complete and sufficient for salvation .
The Fujita Art Museum ( 藤田美術館 , Fujita Bijutsukan ) is one of the largest private collections in the Kansai region . The collection was assembled by Fujita Denzaburō and his descendants . It was installed in a storehouse on the family property in Osaka . Opened to the public in 1954 , the collection houses Chinese and Japanese painting , calligraphy , sculpture , ceramics , lacquer , textiles , metalwork , and Japanese tea ceremony objects . The Japanese paintings include 13th and 14th century scrolls such as the Murasaki Shikibu Diary Emaki ( National Treasure ) and paintings of the 16 Rakan by Takuma Eiga . The section of Japanese ceramics , largely tea-ceremony objects , is varied and includes teabowls by Chōjirō and Nonomura Ninsei , as well as square dishes by Kōrin and Kenzan . In March 2017 , 31 objects in the collection were de-accessioned and put on auction through auction house Christie 's in New York as part of New York 's Asian Week 2017 event
Osaka ( Japanese : 大阪市 , Hepburn : Ōsaka-shi , pronounced [ oːsakaɕi ] ; commonly just 大阪 , Ōsaka [ oːsaka ] ( listen ) ) is a designated city in the Kansai region of the Honshu Island in Japan . It is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area , the second largest metropolitan area in Japan and among the largest in the world with more than 20 million inhabitants . Osaka was traditionally considered Japan 's economic hub . By the Kofun period ( 300-538 ) it had developed into an important regional port , and in the 7th and 8th centuries it served briefly as the imperial capital . Osaka continued to flourish during the Edo period ( 1603-1867 ) and became known as a center of Japanese culture . Following the Meiji Restoration , Osaka greatly expanded in size and underwent rapid industrialization . In 1889 , Osaka was officially established as a municipality . Today , Osaka is a major financial center of Japan . It is home to the Osaka Securities Exchange as well as the multinational electronics corporations Panasonic and Sharp . Famous landmarks in Osaka include Osaka Castle - which played a pivotal role in the Siege of Osaka and was featured in the 1980 American television mini-series Shogun - and Shitennō-ji - the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan .
The Phoenix is a German breed of long-tailed chicken . It derives from cross-breeding of imported long-tailed Japanese birds similar to the Onagadori with other breeds .
The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist gods , which originate from the Indian version of Lokapalas , each of whom is believed to watch over one cardinal direction of the world . In Chinese mythology , they are known collectively as the Fēng Tiáo Yǔ Shùn ( simplified Chinese : 风调雨顺 ; traditional Chinese : 風調雨順 ; literally : 'Good climate ' ) or Sì Dà Tiānwáng ( Chinese : 四大天王 ; literally : 'Four Great Heavenly Kings ' ) . In the ancient language Sanskrit they are called the Chaturmahārāja ( चतुर्महाराज ) , or Chaturmahārājikādeva : Four Great Heavenly Kings . The Hall of the Heavenly Kings is a standard component of Chinese Buddhist temples .
Ninna-ji ( 仁和寺 , Ninna-ji ) is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism . Located in western Kyoto , Japan , it was founded in AD 888 by the retired Emperor Uda . It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto , a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
The Tamamushi Shrine ( 玉虫厨子 , Tamamushi no zushi ) is a miniature shrine owned by the Hōryū-ji temple complex of Nara , Japan . Its date of construction is unknown , but estimated to be around the middle of the seventh century . Decorated with rare examples of Asuka-period paintings , it provides important clues to the architecture of the time and has been designated a National Treasure . Consisting of a low rectangular dais supporting a plinth upon which stands a miniature building 233 centimetres ( 7 ft 8 in ) tall , the Tamamushi Shrine derives its name from the iridescent wings of the tamamushi beetle with which it was once ornamented , but which have now exfoliated . In spite of what its name in English may suggest , the shrine is not a miniature Shinto shrine , as zushi ( 厨子 ) is a term for a miniature shrine that houses Buddhist images or sūtra scrolls , in this case a statue of Kannon and small rows of seated bronze Buddhas .
The Asuka period ( 飛鳥時代 , Asuka jidai ) was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 ( or 592 to 645 ) , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period . The Yamato polity evolved greatly during the Asuka period , which is named after the Asuka region , about 25 km ( 16 mi ) south of the modern city of Nara . The Asuka period is characterized by its significant artistic , social , and political transformations , having their origins in the late Kofun period but largely affected by the arrival of Buddhism from China . The introduction of Buddhism marked a change in Japanese society . The Asuka period is also distinguished by the change in the name of the country from Wa ( 倭 ) to Nihon ( 日本 ) .
Hōryū-ji ( 法隆寺 , lit . Temple of the Flourishing Law ) is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples , in Ikaruga , Nara Prefecture , Japan . Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji ( 法隆学問寺 ) , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law , the complex serving as both a seminary and monastery . The temple was founded by Prince Shōtoku in 607 , but according to the Nihon Shoki , in 670 all buildings were burned down by lightning . However , reconstructed at least 1,300 years ago , the Kondō ( main holl ) is widely recognized as the world 's oldest wooden building . A fire that broke out during the dismantling and repair of Kondo in January 26 , 1949 destroyed a mural of the Asuka period , a national treasure , and shocked the Japanese . Based on this accident , the day when the fire broke out is now fire prevention day for cultural properties . In 1993 , Horyu-ji Temple , along with Hokki-ji , was registered as Japan 's first UNESCO World Heritage site under the name of Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area . A tree ring survey conducted in 2001 revealed that the shinbashira of the five-story Pagoda were cut down in 594 , before burned down in 670 .
Ikaruga ( 斑鳩町 , Ikaruga-chō ) is a town in Ikoma District , Nara , Japan . Ikaruga is home to Hōryū-ji and Hokki-ji , ancient Buddhist temples collectively inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Other ancient temples include Hōrin-ji , also in the vicinity of Hōryū-ji . The town was named after the Palace of Prince Shōtoku , Ikaruga-no-Miya ( Imperial Palace of Ikaruga , or Imperial House of Ikaruga ) , whose grounds were at Hōryū-ji , thus it is also called Ikaruga-dera ( temple of Ikaruga ) . [ citation needed ] As of April 1 , 2015 , the town has an estimated population of 27,341 , with 11,308 households . The total area is 14.27 km2 ( 6 sq mi ) .
The Taima Mandala ( 當麻曼荼羅 , 綴織当麻曼荼羅図 ) is a mandala in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism . The original copy of the mandala is still housed in the Taima-dera temple in Nara , Japan , and was woven c. 763 . The mandala is appointed as a national treasure of Japan on April 27 , 1961 . Many copies have been made since , and the original work has degraded considerably . According to popular legend , Chūjō-hime witnessed the creation of the mandala , crafted from fibers of lotus stems by two nuns who were thought to be Amida Buddha ( Buddha of Infinite Light ) and Kannon Bodhisattva . The imagery of the Mandala is based mostly on the Sutra of the Contemplation of Amitayus 観無量寿経 , and has been the subject of several doctrinal commentaries in Japanese Buddhism .
Taima-dera ( 當麻寺 ) is a Buddhist temple in Katsuragi , Nara , Japan . The temple legend says it was built originally in 612 by the Imperial Prince Maroko , the brother of Prince Shotoku . The temple was moved to its present location in 681 by the grandson of Prince Maroko , and served as the head temple , or honzan ( 本山 ) of the Hosso sect although currently the temple is jointly administrated by Shingon and Jodo schools .