[Rarebooks] fs: The Imperial Japanese Shosoin Repository

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

Harada, Jiro. ENGLISH CATALOGUE OF TREASURES IN THE IMPERIAL REPOSITORY 
SHOSOIN. Tokyo; Imperial Household Museum: 1932.

The treasures of the Imperial Shosoin at Nara were donated by the Empress 
Dowager Komyo to the Todaiji temple on 21 June 756, after the death of the 
Emperor Shomu. The contents mainly consist of items which were used for 
daily life, and include books, calligraphy tools, furniture, musical 
instruments, costumes, medicines, weaponry, food vessels, and Buddhist 
altar fittings. The fact that the Repository was sealed and rarely opened 
over a period of some 1,200 years has insured the integrity of the 
collection and the fine condition of most of the materials inside (which 
for preservation reasons were moved to more secure facilities in the 1950s 
and 60s). The treasures illustrated and described here included lacquers, 
textiles, ivory and silver objects, swords, bronzes, ceramics, several 
pieces of very fine, almost Lalique-type, glass, screens and boxes, 
weapons, saddles, masks and carvings, and other arts. Hardcover. 7.5"x10", 
192 pages plus 80 b/w plates. Light wear; a very nice copy. [07284] $125.00

Illustrations-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/images07/th-07284.jpg>


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