Important Cultural Properties

Sign at Kan'ei-ji in Tokyo, bearing the Bunkachô logo, and identifying the site as containing Important Cultural Properties.

• System Established: 1950
• Japanese: 重要文化財 (juuyou bunkazai)

In 1950, the Japanese government created a new system of cultural heritage, dividing the category of National Treasures - the top tier of sites and objects designated as being of exceptional cultural and historical importance - into an upper tier of National Treasures and a lower tier of Important Cultural Properties.

Important Cultural Properties are more numerous than National Treasures, and are generally considered to be of somewhat less considerable cultural or historical importance. There are currently approximately 12,760 objects & structures registered as Important Cultural Properties, identified by the Bunkachô (Agency for Cultural Affairs) logo, a stylized impression of a pair of hands holding up roof tiles.

Selected List of Important Cultural Properties

Ishikawa Prefecture

Shima teahouse in Kanazawa

• Shima teahouse, Higashi Chayagai, Kanazawa - example of geisha house / teahouse machiya architecture

Chiba Prefecture

• Hotta clan mansion, Sakura
• Narita-san Shinshô-ji - Pagoda, Kômyô-dô, Shaka-dô, Niô-mon, Gakudô

Tokyo

"Spring and Autumn Flowering Grasses," folding screens, by Sakai Hôitsu (Tokyo National Museum)

• Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachô):
  • Saigyô Hôshi gyôjô-e, handscroll painting by Tawaraya Sôtatsu
• Ikegami Honmonji - Pagoda (1608)
• Kan'ei-ji - Eikyûin Mausoleum, Chokugakumon (imperial scroll gate), water basin (suibansha)
• Sensô-ji Nitenmon gate - downgraded from National Treasure in 1950
• Tokyo University of the Arts:
  • Symphony Hall of the Tokyo Music School
  • Hibo Kannon by Kanô Hôgai - pioneering work of Nihonga
• Tokyo National Museum:
  • Azekura storehouse of Jûrin-in, Nara
  • Gate of the Inshû-Ikeda Residence
  • Ogata Kôrin - Fûjin/Raijin screen paintings
  • Painting on Zen Enlightenment, panel paintings from hôjô of Daisen-in, attr. Kanô Motonobu
  • Sakai Hôitsu - Screen paintings of Spring and Autumn Flowering Plants
• Ueno Tôshôgû

Kanagawa Prefecture

A view of Sankeien in Yokohama, with the pagoda visible in the distance

• Kenchô-ji Butsuden (main Buddha hall)
• Sankeien:
  • Gekkaden, formerly of Fushimi castle, built 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu
  • Pagoda - formerly of Tômyô-ji, Muromachi period, oldest pagoda in the Kantô
  • Rinshunkaku - summer home for Kishû Tokugawa family head Tokugawa Yorinobu, 1649, Wakayama
  • Shunsôrô tearoom built by Oda Urakusai
  • Former main hall of Tômyô-ji, Muromachi period, Kyoto
• Sôgen-ji, Twelve Heavenly Generals (Kamakura period sculptures, representative of Unkei's style)
• Former Yokohama Specie Bank Headquarters - example of Meiji period architecture

Aichi Prefecture

The southeast corner tower at Nagoya castle

• Nagoya castle - the three remaining corner towers, of an original eleven, are designated Important Cultural Properties

Shiga Prefecture

• Hikone castle - various buildings, including Ninomaru Sawaguchitamon-yagura. Main tenshu is a National Treasure.

Nara Prefecture

• Kasuga Shrine:
  • Nanmon (South Gate), 1179
  • Wakamiya Shrine honden (1135) and hainoya (1178)
• Kôfuku-ji Numerous sculptures, incl. Seated Amida Nyôrai sculpture - Kamakura period

Kyoto Prefecture

Windows of the upper story of Clarke Memorial Hall at Dôshisha University

Pagoda at Ninna-ji, Kyoto

• Byôdô-in - Yôrin'an shoin, moved to the Byôdô-in from Fushimi castle in 1601
• Clarke Memorial Hall at Dôshisha University
• Daitoku-ji Shinju-an - various paintings, works of calligraphy, etc. including works of calligraphy by Daitô Kokushi.
• Ginkaku-ji - entire complex; includes two buildings designated as National Treasures.
• Nanzen-ji sub-temple Tenju-an:
  • 32 fusuma paintings by Hasegawa Tôhaku, self-portrait of Daimin-kokushi, self-portrait of Shôichi-kokushi, portrait of the priest Heiden, and two portraits of Hosokawa Yûsai and his wife
• Ninna-ji:
  • Kannon-dô (1640s)
  • Mie-dô (c. 1624-44)
  • Pagoda (1644)
  • Ryôkakutei
  • Seated sculpture of Yakushi-nyôrai, in the Reimei-den
• Shimogamo Shrine - 53 various objects.
• Zenrin-ji:
  • Mikaeri Amida sculpture
  • Painting of sixteen Arhats (ink & colors on silk, Kamakura period, Important Cultural Property)
  • Painting of the raging sea on gilded paper, by Hasegawa Tôhaku (hatô-zu)
  • Painting of Shaka Trinity by Kanô Motonobu (colors on paper)
  • Painting of Shaka and Ten Disciples, attr. Zhang Sigong (color on silk)
  • Painting of Amida and Twenty-Five Bodhisattvas raigô
  • Painting of Amida Trinity (Kamakura period)
  • Painting of Buddha entering Nirvana (nehanzu, ink and colors on paper)
  • Painting of Yakushi nyorai (ink and colors on silk)
  • Painting of Shaka and 16 good gods (Shaka 16 zenjin-zô)
  • Painting of Ten Worlds (colors on silk)
  • Painted door of 25 bodhisattvas raigô
  • Reliquary
  • Taima Mandala (1262)
  • Taima Mandala (c. 1213-1218)
  • Yûtsû nenbutsu engi by Tosa Mitsunobu (colors on silk)
  • Yûtsû nenbutsu engi kanjinchô (colors on paper)

Hiroshima Prefecture

• Ôta family house (former Nakamura family house) in Tomonoura; merchant home where Ryukyuan embassies to Edo, various daimyô, and kuge stayed at times.

Fukuoka Prefecture

The ichi-no-torii ("first gate") at Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka

• Ichi-no-torii at Hakozaki Shrine, 1609

Kagoshima Prefecture

• Main Building (honkan) at Shôkoshûseikan, 1865

Okinawa Prefecture

• Engaku-ji - named a National Treasure in 1933; destroyed in 1945. Rebuilt gates and bridge named Important Cultural Property in 1975.
• Sôgen-ji - designated a National Treasure in 1933; destroyed in 1945. Surviving stone walls & gates are today an Important Cultural Property.

References

• Gallery labels and explanatory plaques at various sites.
• Pamphlets available on-site.