Ready to uncover ancient wonders? The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures awaits. This gallery resides within the Tokyo National Museum. It safeguards over 300 precious artifacts. These treasures originated from Horyuji Temple in Nara. The temple donated them to the Imperial Household in 1878.
The building itself is a work of art. Yoshio Taniguchi designed it. He opened it in 1999. Taniguchi also designed the Toyokan within the same museum complex.
Inside The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, six main galleries display Buddhist art and culture. Most items date from the 7th and 8th centuries. These eras are the Nara and early Heian periods. You will find these galleries across two floors. A mezzanine level also exists.
Gaze upon gilt bronze Buddhist statues. Marvel at gigaku masks. Explore wooden, lacquered, and metal objects. Admire calligraphy and textiles. The gigaku masks are only displayed on Fridays and Saturdays.
Don’t miss the Kanjō-ban. This gilt bronze banner is for Kanjō ceremonies. It is a highlight of The Horyuji Treasures. This banner is believed to be mentioned in historical records from 747. See the original Kanjō-ban alongside another metal banner, the Small Gilt Bronze Ban.
Explore the small gilt bronze Buddhist statues. They are no more than 30–40 cm tall. Many were likely used for private worship. Discover repoussé Buddhist images. These were mass-produced. Artisans hammered thin bronze over a relief image. These images adorned temple walls or private shrines.
Venture to the second floor to see wooden and lacquered objects. These include Buddhist ritual items, furnishings, and musical instruments. Examine the Bamboo Cabinet from the 8th century. A famous Horyuji priest Gyōshin donated it. Notice the sutra box with marquetry. It shows the beautiful grain of jinkō wood. A seven-stringed zither bears an inscription. It reveals its origin in China’s Sichuan Province in 724.
Metalwork objects await you. Kuyōgu were used for offerings. Sōgu were for daily use by priests. Discover implements for Esoteric Buddhist temples. See bon’ongu used to strike the hours. Many pieces came from China and Korea. Cultural exchange between Tang China and Persia influenced the Dragonhead Pitcher. Admire the Incense Burner with a Magpie Tail. It is Japan’s oldest handled incense burner. Bronze Mirrors with Seashore Designs were donated by Empress Kōmyō in 736.
Calligraphy works consist of records. Empress Kōken donated them to the temple. Tang dynasty works are also present. Horyuji Temple’s records detail daily events and Prince Shōtoku legends.
Textiles include Buddhist ritual banners, table mats, and monks’ robes. Fragments reveal rare ancient weaves. Find warp-faced compound weaves and tapestries. See warp ikat fragments and complex gauze. The collection showcases dyed fabrics. Examples include dot-pattern tie-dyeing, wax-resist dyeing, and clamp-resist dyeing. Early embroidery, braiding, and rugs also feature.
Visit the reference room on the second-floor mezzanine. Access the digital archive. View the entire Horyuji Treasures collection on a computer. Explanations are provided in multiple languages. A restaurant is located on the ground floor for refreshments.