User:Bamse/Reihōkan

History
The Koyasan Reihōkan was established by Kongōbu-ji, the head temple at Koyasan, and with the help of volunteers, with the aim to preserve and exhibit the precious religious and cultural  heritage of Koyasan. Construction of the building was completed on 1920-09-30. The opening of the museum was celebrated on 1921-05-15 and the head priest of Kongōbu-ji, Hōryū Doki (土宜法龍) assumed the position of first director. Subsequently the temple's head priests continued to work as museum director.

On 1957-09-16, the Koyasan Cultural Property Preservation Society (高野山文化財保存会) was established and the museum put under its control. On 1961-05, the museum was expanded with the construction of the Koyasan Great Treasury (高野山大宝蔵), at the time the biggest of its kind in Japan and used mainly for nationally designated tangible cultural properties of the fine arts and crafts type. The storage space was further extended in 1984 and 2003. On 1988-05-05 five buildings of the museum were designated as registered tangible cultural property.

Collection
The museum stores more than 50,000 artifacts of which more than 28,000 have been designated as valuable. This includes 186 objects or sets of objects designated as 21 National Treasures (about 4800 articles), 147 Important Cultural Properties (about 20,000 articles), 16 Important Cultural Properties of Wakayama Prefecture (about 2850 articles) and 2 Important Works of Art.

Paintings
Eight National Treasure paintings owned by six of Koyasan's temples are stored at the Reihōkan. A 163.6 x hanging scroll showing the Dragon King Zennyo (絹本著色善女竜王像) has been designated as National Treasure. Painted by Jōchi (定智) in 1145 Heian period with color on silk, the scoll is owned by Kongōbu-ji.

Buddha's Nirvana (絹本著色仏涅槃図), owned by Kongōbu-ji is a 267.6 x hanging scroll painted with color on silk. Dated to 1086, Heian period, it is a type of Nirvana painting (nehan-zu) depicting the death and entrance to nirvana of the historical Buddha (Shaka). Typical for this kid of paintings, Shaka is shown lying on his deathbed surrounded by mourners. This painting is the oldest extant and finest of its type.

The Portrait of Buddhist monk Gonsō (絹本著色勤操僧正像) is a 12th century Heian period hanging scroll owned by Fūmon-in (普門院). The scroll painted in colors on silk measures 166.4 x. An inscription on the top tells of a wooden sculpture of Gonsō being created after his death by his pupils praying for happiness in the next world and praising Gonsō's learning and virtue.

Sculptures
There are two National Treasures in the sculpture category, both owned by Kongōbu-ji. An 8th century Tang dynasty Miniature Buddhist shrine (木造諸尊仏龕) brought back from China by Kūkai is stored at the museum. This 23.1 cm sandalwood, natural wood surface (素地,) carving contains various Buddhist images.

Six of the group of Eight Attendants of Fudō Myōō (木造八大童子立像), the oldest, dating to 1197 Kamakura period by Unkei are National Treasures: Ekō (慧光), Eki (慧喜), Ukubaga (烏倶婆誐), Shōjō Biku (清浄比丘), Kongara (矜羯羅), Seitaka (制多迦). The remaining two (Anokuda (阿耨達), Shitoku (指徳)) were produced in the 14th century and are not included in this nomination. The group, made of colored hinoki wood with crystal eyes, was formerly enshrined in the Fudō-dō (不動堂). All sculptures are around 1 m in size, specifically: 96.6 cm (Ekō), 98.8 cm (Eki), 95.1 cm (Ukubaga), 97.1 cm (Shōjō), 95.6 cm (Kongara), 103.0 cm (Seitaka).

A small Chinese style chest (karabitsu) with maki-e, mother of pearl inlay (澤千鳥螺鈿蒔絵小唐櫃) and plover motifs from the 12th century Heian period is the only crafts National Treasure at the museum. The chest is covered with black lacquer and gold dust has been sprinkled to form the image of plovers playing in the marsh. It is thought that the chest was once used to store Buddhist scriptures.
 * Crafts