Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 16
January 2, 2008 (Wed) - February 17, 2008 (Sun)
Research of cultural properties is one of the indispensable activities of museums. Shortly after its creation, the Museum (present Tokyo National Museum) conducted the important task of surveying collections owned by ancient temples, shrines, and homes of aristocrats and former feudal lords.
In 1871 the government announced the policy "Preservation of Ancient Implements and Objects." Temples and shrines, including many in Nara and Kyoto, submitted lists of their cultural properties. The lists formed the basis for the first national survey of cultural properties that was carried out in 1872 and was known as the Jinshin Survey. It was conducted to prepare for an exposition held by the Ministry of Education the same year as well as to protect objects from vandalism by members of the Anti-Buddhist movement. The research was also important for the museum in order to increase its collection.
The participants of the survey included the Museum staff including Machida Hisanari, officials from the Ministry of Education, as well as the oil painter Takahasi Yuichi and photographer Yokoyama Matsusaburo for visual documentation of the survey. Following the research of treasures owned by temples and shrines in Ise, Nagoya and Kyoto, aristocrats and former feudal lords, the Shoso-in Repository at Todaiji temple was unsealed for the first time since the Tenpo era (1830-1844) and many Imperial treasures were researched.
This display features illustrations of treasures from the Temples and Shrines Survey in 1872, related photographs, and other materials to show the process of the survey. Also included is are records of the restoration of Shosoin Treasures in 1889.
Major works in this exhibition
