Gilt Bronze Lion and Arabesque Bowl: Gifu City's Only National Treasure

Tucked away in the hills of Gifu City's Nagara district, the Gilt Bronze Lion and Arabesque Pattern Bowl (金銅獅子唐草文鉢, Kondō Shishi Karakusa Mon Hachi) is a remarkable masterpiece of Nara-period metalwork. Designated as a National Treasure of Japan, this exquisite ceremonial vessel is the only object of its rank in all of Gifu City. Housed at Gokoku-no-ji Temple (護国之寺), a venerable Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 746, the bowl carries with it a legendary tale that intertwines with the creation of the Great Buddha at Todai-ji in Nara.

History and Legend of the Bowl

According to temple tradition, Emperor Shōmu sent envoys across Japan to find skilled artisans who could help construct the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Todai-ji Temple. One of these envoys, while staying at Ganseiji Temple in what is now Gifu City, received a divine message in a dream: "The first person you meet tomorrow morning will be the one you seek." The next day, the envoy encountered a young boy named Hino Kanamaro (日野金丸), who was washing a cow by the river. When asked to demonstrate his skills, Kanamaro fashioned a Buddha statue from clay with astonishing talent. Impressed, the envoy brought the boy to Nara, where he played a key role in the creation of the Great Buddha.

During the consecration ceremony for the completed Daibutsu, it is said that purple clouds appeared in the sky, heavenly music filled the air, and a magnificent bowl descended from above. A celestial voice proclaimed that the Buddha Shakyamuni was bestowing this bowl in recognition of the great achievement. Emperor Shōmu awarded the miraculous bowl to Kanamaro for his contributions. Kanamaro returned to his homeland and founded Gokoku-no-ji Temple to enshrine the sacred vessel. Legend also holds that after his death, Kanamaro was reborn as the Eleven-Faced Thousand-Armed Kannon (Senju Kannon), which became the temple's principal deity.

Craftsmanship and Artistic Significance

The bowl is a superlative example of Nara-period (710–794) metalworking artistry. Made of hammered copper with gilt overlay (鍍金, tokin), it measures approximately 14.5 centimeters in height and 27.5 centimeters in diameter, taking the classic Buddhist alms bowl (teppachi) form.

The entire exterior surface is covered with meticulously engraved decoration. Two rows of beaded patterns (renju-mon) run along the rim, while three rows divide the body into upper and lower registers. In the upper band, four lions are depicted in dynamic, leaping poses with their manes flowing behind them, surrounded by floating clouds and floral motifs. The spaces between the lions are filled with delicate botanical patterns, all set against a ground of nanako (fish-roe) punching — a technique that creates a finely textured background. The lower band features a central lotus design with seventeen petals, from which arabesque scroll patterns radiate outward, also on a nanako ground.

Scholars describe the bowl as possessing a grand and noble form adorned with sumptuous lion and arabesque designs. While plain bowls of similar shape survive from this era, decorated examples of this caliber are exceptionally rare — comparable only to certain vessels preserved in the Shōsō-in imperial repository and at Todai-ji Temple itself. The bowl is recognized as an invaluable surviving example of a Nara-period Buddhist food offering vessel (bushōki).

Why It Was Designated a National Treasure

The Gilt Bronze Lion and Arabesque Pattern Bowl was first designated as an Important Cultural Property (then called "Old National Treasure") on March 26, 1915. On February 2, 1955, it was elevated to the highest rank of National Treasure under the Cultural Properties Protection Act. Several factors contributed to this prestigious designation:

• Its outstanding artistic quality, combining grand form with lavish yet refined decoration that exemplifies the aesthetic sensibilities of the Nara period
• Its extreme rarity as a decorated Buddhist ceremonial bowl — most surviving examples from this era are unadorned
• Its significance as a precious surviving example of a Nara-period food offering vessel used in Buddhist rituals
• The rich historical documentation, including paintings and written records, that accompany the bowl and the legend of Hino Kanamaro

Visiting the Bowl at Gokoku-no-ji Temple

Gokoku-no-ji Temple (護国之寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan lineage, situated on a wooded hillside in the Obusa area of Gifu City. The temple is said to have been founded in 746 (Tempyō 18) by the monk Gyōki at the imperial command of Emperor Shōmu. Although the original structures were destroyed by fire in 1590 during the warring states period, the temple was subsequently rebuilt, and the current buildings date from the mid-18th century (Genbun to Hōreki eras).

The National Treasure bowl is normally kept in secure storage and is not on regular public display. It is shown to the public only twice a year — on January 18 and August 18. These special viewings offer a rare and intimate opportunity to see this magnificent artifact in its home temple. Visitors who plan their trip around these dates will be rewarded with a truly special cultural experience.

Even outside the special viewing days, Gokoku-no-ji is well worth a visit. The temple grounds feature a beautiful garden that can be enjoyed while savoring shōjin ryōri (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) by advance reservation. The impressive rōmon gate (designated a Gifu City Cultural Property) guards the entrance, and the atmosphere is one of deep tranquility. The temple also participates in the popular "Golden Goshuin" (金の御朱印) program on the last Friday of each month, offering a limited-edition seal featuring the famous bowl's design.

Nearby Attractions

Gokoku-no-ji Temple is ideally located for combining your visit with some of Gifu City's most popular attractions:

• Gifu Castle and Mt. Kinka (金華山) — Just a few kilometers south, this iconic castle sits atop 329-meter Mt. Kinka and was once the stronghold of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga. Reach the summit by ropeway or hiking trail and enjoy panoramic views of the Nagara River and the surrounding mountains.
• Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (長良川鵜飼) — From May to October, experience the ancient art of ukai, where master fishermen use trained cormorants to catch sweetfish (ayu) by torchlight on the Nagara River. This tradition has been practiced for over 1,300 years.
• Gifu Park (岐阜公園) — Located at the base of Mt. Kinka, this park features the remains of Oda Nobunaga's residence, the Nagara River Ukai Museum, and serves as the starting point for the Kinka Ropeway.
• Nagara Tenjin Shrine (長良天神神社) — A short bus ride from Gokoku-no-ji, this shrine is dedicated to the deity of learning and is a popular spot for those praying for academic success.