User:Bamse/National Treasures of Japan/Notes

=Final version=

mystats
buildings: 11+48+0+64+5+22+7=157 (of 215)
 * kansai (hyogo, kyoto, mie, nara, osaka, shiga, wakayama)

artsandcrafts: 9+206+4+149+51+34+27=480 (of 864); tokyo has 207

total: 20+254+4+213+56+56+34=637 (of 1079)

official stats (loc of owner, not loc of property)
=Structure of National Treasures of Japan=
 * Cultural properties are essential to accurately understand the history and culture of Japan, and they also form the foundations for its future cultural growth and development.

Background

 * in past most CP were preserved by aristocracies, samurai families, temples, shrines; with tumultous changes of meiji restoration those properties endangered


 * 1868 Tokugawa shogunate ended abruptly->replaced by new system of government (Meiji Restoration)


 * political and social upheaval connected with restoration had influence on cultural heritage (particularly Buddhist temples)
 * in Edo period temples supported by shogunate, inhabitants registered at temples -> temples associated with old order
 * "National School" formed at end of Edo period propagated return to Shintoism
 * these two factors formed the background for anti-Buddhist violence (often led by Shinto priests)-> destruction of Buddhist images, sculptures, buildings
 * government tried with Shinbutsu bunri to end the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto, temples in shrine complexes were closed down
 * in 1871 government confiscated lands of temples and shrines -> temples were forced to disband
 * properties of feudal lords also expropriated in 1871-> loss of historical buildings (castles, residences)
 * eager and increasing westernisation endangered traditional buildings
 * also many works of art exported (sold to foreigners)->motivation for protection
 * increased interest in industry and development led to impoverishment of buddhist and shinto institutions, the decay of temples and export of valuable objects
 * nearly 18,000 temples closed

1871 (Plan for the Preservation of Ancient Artifacts (古器旧物保存方))

 * on recommendation of university administration, government issued decree in 1871 for the protection of antiquities; ordered prefectures to submit inventories of suitable objects
 * Daijō-kan issued edict ordering temples and shrines to help in the compilation of national register of important buildings and art treasures
 * but ground to halt in face of radical westernisation ("civilisation and enlightenment")
 * decree for protection of antiquities, preparation of funds and later (1880) funds for maintenance

1897 (Ancient Temples and Shrines Preservation Law) June and Dec laws

 * from 1880 on government alloted funds for preservation of ancient shrines and temples (koshaji hozon kin), not for special projects
 * after 1885 the ministery of the interior started to make appropriations for the preservation of temples and shrines: buildings repaired include kondo of toshodaiji, 5-storied pagoda of daigoji and hondo of kiyomizudera
 * by 1894, 539 shrines and temples had received subsidies for repairs and reconstruction
 * in connection with establishment of "State Shinto", shrines had received annually funds since 1874
 * 1888: special office for the inventory of treasures Provisional Bureau for Investigation of National Treasures within imperial household ministry created->consolidation of government preservation and restoration activities
 * 1888 to 1897 survey all over japan under guidance of Okakura Kakuzō and Ernest Fenollosa -> 210,000 objects evaluated
 * grants had been given since 1879; until new 1897 law already 539 grants granted
 * 1892/93 inventory of all buildings of ancient shrines and temples carried out (many buildings surveyed)
 * more than 200,000 items of artistic or historic merit evaluated and catalogued (until 1897)
 * political and cultural climate had changed: after enthusiastic adoption of western culture, architecture interest returned to Japanese cultural heritage; inventories led to first publications on architectural history and inclusion of japanese architectural history in curriculum
 * June 5, 1897: government enacted Law for the Preservation of Ancient Temples and Shrines (Law Number 49)
 * first systematic laws for preservation of historic art and architecture
 * formulated under guidance of Itō Chūta
 * 20 articles establishing a system of government financial support for preservation/restoration of buildings and art
 * art 1: application for financial support to be made to ministry of internal affairs
 * art 2: for works of architecture and related art of historic uniqueness and exceptional quality
 * art 3: responsibility for pres/rest was in the hand of local officials
 * art 8: restoration financed directly from national coffers
 * responsibility for implementation vested in ministery of interior (from 1914 transferred to ministery of education)
 * followed by a second law on 15 Dec 1897 giving supplementary provisions for designating works of art in the posession of temples or shrines as "national treasure"; religious architecture could be designated: "specially protected buildings" (tokubetsu hogo kenzōbutsu)
 * funds reserved for restoration of certain works of art and buildings raised from 20,000 yen to 150,000 yen
 * fines set for destruction of cultural properties; owners required to register designated objects with newly created museums; museums granted first option in case of sale
 * 1897: first 44 temple and shrine buildings and 155 relics were protected beginning with kondō at horyu-ji
 * categories covered: paintings, sculpture, calligraphy, books and handicrafts; subsequently swords were added (limited to religious instutions)->privately owned art still left the country


 * two laws established foundation for preservation of Japan's artistic and architectural heritage
 * at 1897 only England, France, Greece and four other European nations had similar legislation in place
 * main criteria: "artistic superiority", "value as historical evidence and wealth of historical associations", but also age had an important role
 * law enacted in 1898
 * restoration of Daibutsuden (1906-1913) carried out under these laws

1919 (Historical Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments Preservation Law (史蹟名勝天然紀念物保存法))

 * at begin of 20th century transformations of landscape because of modernization threatened historic and natural monuments->"Imperial Ancient Sites Survey Society" and "Society for the Investigation and Preservation of Historic Sites and Aged Trees" (both formed by men of prominent social standing)->such organizations lobbied which resulted in a resolution in the house of peers->law of 1919
 * law extended previous law to historical sites, etc; same type of cataloging and protective measures as that for temples, shrines and pieces of art that were already in place

1929 (National Treasures Preservation Law (国宝保存法))

 * by 1929, 1116 properties listted (according to 1897 law)
 * by 1929, 1081 buildings designated (mainly religious buildings from 7th to early 17th century), ca. 500 buildings extensively restored with 90 percent of costs from national budget
 * restorations of meiji period often employed new materials and techniques
 * 1929 law extended protection to all public and private institutions and private individuals in order to prevent export or removal
 * 1929 law replaced 1897 law and only designated "National Treasures"
 * 1929: Law for the Preservation of National Treasures (kokuhō hozon hō) applied to objects of art and historical buildings (both termed "National Treasures")
 * focus extended from religious buildings to castles, teahouses, residences, more recent religious buildings
 * many of these buildings had been transferred from feudal owners to private owners
 * for the first time residential buildings protected: yoshimura residence in osaka (1937) and Ogawa residence in kyoto (1944)
 * permit for alterations introduced
 * 70-75 percent of restoration costs from national budget, even during war the budget increased
 * 1930s: on-site architect supervised reconstruction -> standard raised
 * starting with restoration of todai-ji's nandaimon in 1930, restoration reports (plans, results of survey, historical sources, documentation of work done) became custom
 * responsibility now solely with ministry of education

1933 (Law Regarding the Preservation of Important Works of Fine Arts (重要美術品等ノ保存ニ関スル法律))

 * 1933: Law Concerning the Preservation of Important Objects of Art (juuyou bijutsushin no hozon ni kansuru houritsu): emergency measure to prevent art objects that had not been designated from being exported during depression
 * simpler designation procedure with temporary protection (including export)
 * total of about 8000 objects protected:including temples, shrines, residential buildings
 * during WW2 many buildings camouflaged and water tanks and fire walls installed
 * May to August 1945: 206 designated buildings destroyed

Background

 * 26-01-1949: fire in kondo of horyu-ji during restoration destroyed wall paintings(oldest building in japan, and first to be protected under 1897 law, oldest complete wooden strutcture in the world)->great shock->accelerated reogranisation->30-05-1950: Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (bunkazai hogohou)

1950 law

 * 1) selection of most important CP
 * 2) restrictions on alterations, repairs, export of CP
 * 3) measures for preservation and utilization (e.g. disaster protection work, acquisition)


 * 1950 law combined “National Treasures Preservation Law”, the “Law Regarding the Preservation of Important Works of Fine Arts”, the “Historical Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments Preservation Law” and other existing laws
 * before 1950 law, only intangible CP of especially high value at risk of extinction were protected
 * even by international standards broad spectrum of properties covered:
 * included scope of 1919 Law for the Preservation of Historical Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, Natural Monuments (shiseki meisho tennen kinenbutsu hozon hou)
 * new categories: "intangible cultural properties" (mukei bunkazai), "folk cultural properties" (minzoku bunkazai), "buried cultural properties" (maizou bunkazai)


 * regulations implementing the law specify categories
 * architecture: outstanding in design or technically outstanding, are of high historic or scholarly value or are typical of a movement or area
 * three categories for protection: tangible/intangible (=2) cultural properties and "historic sites, places of scenic beauty, natural monuments" (extended in 1954 revision)
 * new "intangible cultural property" category made it possible to protect for the first time the traditional performing and applied arts
 * including subsequent provisions the 1950 law broadened coverage to intangible cultural properties (performing arts or applied arts), folk cultural properties (tangible and intangible), tangible cultural properties (buildings, etc), historic sites, places of scenic beauty and natural monuments
 * law defines "tangible cultural properties" as objects of high artistic or historic value or archaeological materials (or other historic material) of high scholarly value


 * for "tangible cultural properties" a two class system: "National Treasures", "Important Cultural Properties"
 * minister of education can designate important cultural properties as national treasures if they are of particularly high value from the standpoint of world culture or outstanding tresaures for the Japanese people
 * all previously designated national treasures (1929 law) initially demoted to important cultural properties


 * law provided for establishment of Protection of Cultural Properties Commission -> (foreshadowed the structure of ACA ; Committee for the Protection of Cultural Properties established

1954 amendments

 * registered cultural properties divided in four categories: tangible/intangible cultural properties, folk materials (split off from fromer "tangible cultural properties" category), monuments (former "historic sites, places of scenic beauty, natural monuments" renamed)
 * buried CP new separate category (separated from tangible CP
 * system for designation of "Important Intangible CP"
 * system for designation of "Important Tangible Folk Properties" separate from "Important Tangible Propertires"

1960s
*particularly since 1960s spectrum of protected bulidings expanded: early examples of western architecture
 * late 60s: concept of conserving built environment appeared

1966 (Law for the Preservation of Ancient Capitals)

 * prime minister could proclaim "preservation districts for historic landscapes" or "special preservation districts"; former needed only notification for alterations, latter needed approval for alterations
 * restricted to ancient capitals (kamakura, nara, kyoto, asuka, ikaruga, kashihara, sakurai, tenri)

1968 amendments

 * "city planning law" passed: decentralisation of planning authority to local governments
 * (possibly not an amendment): foundation of ACA as merger of "Cultural Bureau of Ministry of Education" and the "Cultural Properties Protection Commission"
 * "Council for the Protection of CP" established

1975 amendment (Preservation District for a Group of Historic Buildings)

 * extension of 1964 Ancient Capital law for groups of buildings to include not only capitals
 * reconstruction, extension, moving, demolishing of buildings requires approval, same holds for changes of townscape
 * especially important districts can get designation: Important Preservation District for a Group of Historic Buildings
 * as of June 1998, 49 preservation districts, many in remote regions
 * owners feel that designation would involve restrictions and hinder economic growth->they oppose nomination

1975 amendment (Techniques for the conservation of cultural properties)

 * number of craftsmen disapeared with industrialization->need to protect ancient crafts in order to insure preservation of cultural properties
 * new category introduced: "Techniques for the conservation of cultural properties" (include tangible and intangible properties, e.g. mounting of paintings and calligraphy on scrolls, repair of lacquerware and wooden sculptures, production of nou masks, costumes and instruments)
 * designation of "techniques..." resembles designation of intangible cultural properties (Living National Treasures); but former are techniques without which there can be no adequate conservation of cultural properties, while latter are techniques of high artistic and historic merit
 * minister of education can designate "selected conservation techniques" (indispensible for conservation)
 * examples in architecture: Japanese Association for Conservation of Architectural Monuments (for repairs and woodwork), National Association for the Preservation of Roofing Techniques for Shrines and Temples (techniques for organic roofing materials: cyprus bark, shingles, thatch), Association for the Conservation of Cultural Properties (paintings and lacquering of architectural monuments)
 * nomination ("techniques...") provides in addition to prestige, subsidies for training, courses and documentation
 * added Scholarly Resources of Political, Economic, Social or Cultural Importance to National History

1996 amendment (Registered Cultural Properties)

 * new level below ICP: "Registered CP"; "waiting list for ICP nominations"
 * large number of registration, focus on meiji, taisho, showa, (and late edo) periods; mainly industrial and historic residential buildings
 * system of registration of cultural properties with few responsibilities:
 * owners need to notify in case of extensive loss or damage within 10 days
 * intended changes need to be reported at least 30 days before (except for changes that effect less than 25 percent of visible surface)
 * change of ownership need to be notified within 20 days
 * real estate tax is lowered by up to 50 percent and landtax is reduced by 50 percent
 * owner eligible for low interest loans for maintenance and repairs subsidy of 50 percent for architect
 * system is for structures others than those designated by national or local governments
 * Based on notification, guidance, and advice, this system aims at voluntary protection of cultural properties by their owners
 * "Tangible Registered CP" are items in great need of preservation and use

now (1998)/recently/ at the end of the 20th century

 * agency of cultural affairs focuses on structures built between 1868 and 1930 or on buildings in regions that are underrepresented (compared with kyoto, nara,...)
 * problem is insufficient supply of raw materials and tools->considered measures (in 1998)

1999 amendments

 * transfer of authority to prefectures and designated cities
 * reform to "council for cultural affairs"

2004 amendments

 * system for "Important Cultural landscapes"
 * "Folk techniques" added to definition of "Folk CP"
 * expansion of system of "Registered CP" to include works of fine arts and crafts, tangible CP, tangible folk CP, monuments

Today

 * typical for Japanese preservation and restoration protection is the regard to both physical and intangible properties and their protection

levels of designations (tier)

 * tangible cultural properties in fine arts (not structures!) are designated according to a three-tier system: "Registered Tangible Cultural Properties", ICP, NT
 * tangible cultural properties like buildings: either "registered" or "important"???
 * (historic sites, places of scenic beauty, monuments and groups of bulidings: "registered", "special")

Criteria for NT designation

 * truly exceptional workmanship, deep importance for cultural history or exceptional value to scholarship

Designation procedure for NT

 * owner contacts or is contacted by the ACA to exchange advise and information about registration (owners of ICP may seek designation status)
 * preliminary consultation of ACA -> (if merits protection) -> five members Cultural Affairs Council (CAC), appointed by minister of education for "wide and eminent views on and knowledge of culture" -> (if support registration) -> placement of registration list of cultural properties and announcement in official gazette
 * deliberately restrained designation policy:
 * although largest number of designated cultural properties are for objects of art, for every piece there are many unregistered works of comparable age and quality
 * schematic overview of designation procedure: see page 5 of
 * procedure for designation:
 * agency for cultural affairs selects buildings based on inventories or other publications
 * contacts owner via local government to get his consent for designation
 * building and historical material are surveyed together with prefecture and local government
 * owner submits application (results of survey and maintenance plan)
 * complicated bureaucracy follows
 * owner is informed of designation
 * consent of owner is not necessary according to law (but always obtained prior to designation)
 * difficult to get consent from state properties or private firms (experience shows)

Advantages/responsibilities support/regulations, general remarks
measures of aca for preservation (advantages/responsibilities)...

advantages

 * taxes
 * owners of ICP are "Tax exempt (fixed assets taxes, special property tax, and city planning tax)=local taxes (since 1950)
 * also national tax reduction in case of transfer of CP
 * special tax measures regarding designated cultural properties and related matters
 * Establishment of tax exemptions


 * assistance
 * Instructions, imperatives, and recommendations regarding administration, restoration, and public display to owners and administrative organizations of designated CP
 * Assistance to owners and administrative organizations regarding the administration, restoration, public display, etc. of designated
 * ACA provides owner with advise and assistance on matters of conservation, management and public access
 * Promotion of local activities to promote the protection of cultural properties, such as activities for the study, protection, or transmission of cultural properties
 * Guidance and subsidies concerning repair and maintain to owners and municipalities
 * Subsidies for municipalities to purchase land or structures which are cultural properties


 * cash
 * (many buildings built of plant materials ->roofs) -> subsidies for the owners or custodial bodies to install or repair fire-preservation facilities and other necessary disasterprevention systems.


 * rest
 * prestige, tax advantages, opportunities for conservation, grants; properties generally become more valuable
 * fiscal 2009 budget of ACA for "Facilitation of Preservation Projects for National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties" was 12,013,000,000 yen or 11.8% of total budget; total budget for "Enhancement of Cultural Properties Protection" (including the former) was 62,219,000,000 yen or 61.0% of total ACA budget
 * Environmental preservation

responsibilities

 * differences between national treasures and important cultural properties
 * more power for public authorities concerning nt:
 * in case of damage, the commissioner can order the owner or manager to carry out repairs and in case of non compliance can carry out repairs himself (ICP: only allows him to recommend repairs)
 * only if owner cannot be located, damages or fails to adequately protect a designated CP, or is unwilling to cooperate for public access does the government have the authority to name a custodian (usually a local governing body)


 * ceding rights to state
 * state has first option to buy in case of selling a designated item (§ 46)
 * in case of proposed transfer of ownership of NT, government has option to buy at sale price
 * NT are more restricted in transfer and in most cases ineligible for export


 * notification
 * owner has to consult with commisioner of cultural affairs over any proposed transfer, alteration, change of condition, damage to the cultural property
 * owner has to notify in case of transfer of ownership, loss, destruction, damage, change in location, ...
 * changes require permit (§ 43)
 * agency of cultural affairs is to be notified (in writing) of repairs at least 30 days before (§ 43.2)
 * permission of Commissioner for Cultural Affairs is required for alterations to the state of structures of ICP
 * owner or manager has to supply information and on request report to the commissioner (of the agency for cultural affairs) on the condition of the property (§ 54)
 * Regulations on alterations to current state, restrictions on export


 * access
 * limited time access to the CP or loan to a museum for a specific period of time
 * commissioner (of the agency for cultural affairs) can recommend that the owner allows public access; if subisidies were granted he can order public access for a limited period of time (§ 51)
 * Recommendation, orders and directives to owners or municipalities, regarding public display of cultural properties
 * Establishment and operation of museums, theatres, and other public facilities, and centres for cultural properties research


 * admin and restoration
 * owner or administrative organization has to conduct administration and restoration of ICP, NT
 * Conservation repair work is carried out by the owners of Important Cultural Properties or their custodial bodies, for historical structures that are made of wood, and financial support is available to cover large expenses.

rest

 * Documentation as necessary, making documentation available to public

general

 * also Chinese and Korean artworks designated ICP and NT
 * Korean protective system is similar with also only a small number of designated items
 * definitions of "tangible/intangible CP, Folk CP, Monuments, Cultural Landscapes, Groups of Traditional Buildings: pages 2 and 4 of
 * nominated properties to be nominated as world heritage site are limited to those that fall under the 1950 law


 * National Treasure: items of high value from the perspective of world culture which are unique treasures of the people of Japan; "especially valuable"; "with particularly high value from the perspective of worldwide culture"
 * ICP: important objects
 * Registered CP: primarily for works of the modern period as they are threatened by land development and changes in lifestyle; should prevent of demolition without any identification and evaluation of their cultural values; moderate protection measures, including notification, guidance, suggestion, and advice; examples: houses and public structures, civil engineering structures such as bridges and dikes, and installations such as fences or towers.; in may 2008 more than 7000 structures registered, april 1 2009 7407 structures registered
 * Tangible CP: cultural products with a tangible form that possess high historic, artistic, and academic value for Japan

Statistics

 * by 1939: 8,282 items in nine categories of painting, sculpture, architecture, documents, books, calligraphy, swords, crafts and archaeological resources designated NT; A further number were given the lesser title of Important Cultural Assets, also forbidden to be exported.
 * today (1998 book)
 * almost 2/3 of designated (ICP, NT) buildings are religious; historic residences 20%, castles 7%, early western architecture: 4%
 * only 13% of designated buildings in private ownership
 * more than 90% wooden buildings
 * no postwar buildings protected so far
 * in April 29, 2000: 9,956 designated Important Cultural Objects, including 845 National Treasures
 * in April 2004: 10,120 ICP of fine and applied art, 2250 buildings ICP, 2711 historic sites and places of scenic beauty
 * of these 853 NT objects, 211 NT buildings, 161 historic sites NT
 * in addition 4046 registered tangible cultural properties
 * November 1, 2005: fine and applied arts (10,209 ICP, 858 NT), architectures/structure (4805 registered tangible CP, 2277 ICP, 212 NT), ...
 * detailed statistics for June 1, 2007
 * detailed April 1, 2009 numbers: page 33 of
 * about 60% of NT and ICP arts are owned by shrines or temples
 * "RCP" in art/crafts category initiated in april 2005, in april 1, 2009, 9 items registered
 * March 1, 2005 statistics: see

geographic distribution of NT

 * imperial collection not designated (except shosoin) but protected/under supervision of imperial household agency
 * interestingly properties of Imperial Household Agency (except for Shōsōin) are not NT, reasons: (i) they say properties are sufficiently protected, don't need additional law, (ii) they'd have to allow public access->cede rights
 * 60% of NT in kansai