Shōsōin

The Shōsō-in (正倉院^?) is the treasure house that belongs to Tōdai-ji, Nara. The building is in the azekura log-cabin style, with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden (which houses the Great Buddha). The Shōsō-in houses artifacts connected to Emperor Shōmu (701–756) and Empress Kōmyō (701–760), as well as arts and crafts of the Tempyō period of Japanese history.

The origin of Tōdai-ji Shōsō-in dates back to 756, when Empress Kōmyō dedicated over 600 items to the Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji to express her love for her lost husband, Emperor Shōmu. Her donation was made over five times across several years, then stored at Shōsō-in. Later in Heian period, a large number of treasures, consisting of items and instruments used in important Buddhist services were transferred from a different warehouse in Tōdai-ji. Given the importance of the items stored in this warehouse, the administration of Shōsōin has been taken over by the government, currently the Imperial Household Agency.

After the Meiji Restoration, it came under the administration of the national government, and since World War II has been under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency. It is on the UNESCO register of World Heritage Sites as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. It is also a national treasure of Japan.

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