Culture News
Nara's Shosoin treasures go on show Oct. 24: 60 objects, 11 never seen in public
The 78th Annual Exhibition of Shosoin Treasures runs from October 24 to November 9 in the East and West New Wings of the Nara National Museum. According to Ad Hoc News, 60 objects will be on display, 11 of them shown publicly for the first time.
The Shosoin is the ancient imperial storehouse beside Todai-ji, and the Japanese travel site Have a Good Holiday says it holds about 9,000 treasures in total.
“Every autumn, the imperial seal on the Shōsō-in is lifted so that the treasures can be inspected.” — Have a Good Holiday
Ad Hoc News lists highlights including a Persian-style lacquered ewer decorated with birds, beasts and flowers, the Brahma's Net Sutra with frontispiece, a set of red ivory go pieces, and new research from the Office of the Shosoin, Imperial Household Agency, on ancient rush mats. Have a Good Holiday points to a purple sandalwood biwa with wood inlay and a white glass bowl said to have come from Sasanian Persia, both used as models for museum shop goods, such as ¥4,290 mandarin-duck earrings.
Practical tips from Ad Hoc News: entry is timed and tickets must be bought before arrival; hours are 8am to 6pm, until 8pm on Fridays, weekends and holidays, with last entry an hour before closing. Kintetsu Nara Station is closer to the museum than JR Nara Station, and the park's deer should only be fed the official crackers.
How each outlet framed it
- Ad Hoc News — a visitor's guide for European travellers: dates, highlights, tickets and transport.
- Have a Good Holiday — the treasures as design inspiration, and the souvenirs on sale.
Where the numbers differ: 60 is the number of objects on display this year; 9,000 is the storehouse's full collection, most of which stays behind closed doors.