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==History==
==History==
The Shôsôin was established in [[756]] to house a collection of treasures belonging to the late [[Emperor Shomu|Emperor Shômu]], who had died 49 days earlier.
The Shôsôin was established in [[756]] to house a collection of treasures belonging to the late [[Emperor Shomu|Emperor Shômu]], who had died 49 days earlier.
At times, the storehouse went unopened for decades or even over a century; when it was opened in [[1833]], it had been 140 years since it had last been opened. In addition to heavy metal locks holding the doors closed, those locks in turn are ceremonially sealed with ropes and paper inscribed with imperial orders; the storehouse could not be opened except by imperial order.<ref name=tnmexhibit>Gallery labels, Shôsôin exhibition, Tokyo National Museum, November 2019.</ref>
Though associated directly with Tôdai-ji for over a millennium, the storehouse was placed under the authority of the [[Ministry of the Interior]] (''Naimushô'') in [[1875]], and in [[1884]] under that of the [[Imperial Household Ministry]]. The Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichô'') continues to oversee the site and its collection today.
Though associated directly with Tôdai-ji for over a millennium, the storehouse was placed under the authority of the [[Ministry of the Interior]] (''Naimushô'') in [[1875]], and in [[1884]] under that of the [[Imperial Household Ministry]]. The Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichô'') continues to oversee the site and its collection today.
The objects were never publicly shown before 1947, when art historian [[Sherman Lee]] conducted a survey of the collection and convinced the Japanese government to allow such an exhibition. Objects from the Shôsôin have been shown annually ever since, and at least since the 1990s, this exhibition, held at the [[Nara National Museum]], has been the most-attended exhibition in Japan, and frequently among the top ten in the world.<ref>Rihoko Ueno, "[http://blog.aaa.si.edu/2012/10/monuments-men-in-japan-discoveries-in-the-george-leslie-stout-papers.html Monuments Men in Japan: Discoveries in the George Leslie Stout papers]," Archives of American Art Blog, 29 Oct 2012.; Edan Corkill, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/04/24/arts/hiding-in-japan-are-the-worlds-best-attended-exhibitions/#.UyFNlYVClxI Hiding in Japan are the world’s best attended exhibitions]," ''Japan Times'', 24 Apr 2008.</ref>
The objects were never publicly shown before 1947, when art historian [[Sherman Lee]] conducted a survey of the collection and convinced the Japanese government to allow such an exhibition. Objects from the Shôsôin have been shown annually ever since, and at least since the 1990s, this exhibition, held at the [[Nara National Museum]], has regularly been the most-attended exhibition in Japan, and frequently among the top ten in the world.<ref>Rihoko Ueno, "[http://blog.aaa.si.edu/2012/10/monuments-men-in-japan-discoveries-in-the-george-leslie-stout-papers.html Monuments Men in Japan: Discoveries in the George Leslie Stout papers]," Archives of American Art Blog, 29 Oct 2012.; Edan Corkill, "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2008/04/24/arts/hiding-in-japan-are-the-worlds-best-attended-exhibitions/#.UyFNlYVClxI Hiding in Japan are the world’s best attended exhibitions]," ''Japan Times'', 24 Apr 2008.</ref>
Today, the Shôsôin collection is stored in two modern storage facilities constructed in 1953 and 1962. The original wooden building was designated a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1998, as one of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."
Today, the Shôsôin collection is stored in two modern storage facilities constructed in 1953 and 1962. The original wooden building was designated a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1998, as one of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."
