Interior Furnishings of the Sutra Repository at Chūsonji: A National Treasure of Heian Buddhist Craftsmanship

Nestled within the sacred grounds of Chūsonji Temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, lies a collection of liturgical furnishings that encapsulates the pinnacle of late Heian-period Buddhist craftsmanship. The Interior Furnishings of the Sutra Repository at Chūsonji (中尊寺経蔵堂内具, Chūsonji Kyōzō Dōnaigu) were designated a National Treasure of Japan in 1958. Comprising a ceremonial platform, an inlaid table, a gong stand, and a lamp stand, this ensemble of ritual objects represents one of the finest surviving collections of Buddhist liturgical furnishings from medieval Japan. Each piece showcases breathtaking techniques in mother-of-pearl inlay (raden), lacquerwork, and gilt-bronze metalwork that once adorned the interior of the temple's Sutra Repository, the building where the sacred Buddhist scriptures were housed.

The Legacy of the Ōshū Fujiwara Clan and Chūsonji

To appreciate these National Treasure furnishings, one must first understand the remarkable history of Hiraizumi and the Ōshū Fujiwara clan. In the early twelfth century, Fujiwara no Kiyohira — the first lord of the Ōshū Fujiwara — established his seat of power in Hiraizumi, in what is now Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan. Having endured devastating wars that claimed the lives of his own family, Kiyohira devoted himself to building a Buddhist utopia: a realm of peace where the spirits of all who had perished, friend and foe alike, would be guided to the Pure Land of Amida Buddha.

Beginning in 1105, Kiyohira undertook the grand reconstruction of Chūsonji, originally founded by the eminent Tendai monk Ennin (Jikaku Daishi) in 850. At its zenith, the temple complex boasted over 40 halls and pagodas, along with more than 300 monks' residences. The most celebrated of these structures is the Konjikidō (Golden Hall), completed in 1124, which gleams with gold leaf, mother-of-pearl, and ivory — a breathtaking physical manifestation of the Buddhist Pure Land.

Among the many halls constructed by the Fujiwara was the Kyōzō (Sutra Repository), which housed the precious sutras transcribed by three generations of the clan in gold and silver ink on indigo paper. Although a fire in 1337 destroyed most of the temple complex, both the Golden Hall and the Sutra Repository survived, preserving their treasures for future generations.

What Are the Kyōzō Interior Furnishings?

The Interior Furnishings of the Sutra Repository consist of four Buddhist liturgical objects, collectively designated as a single National Treasure. They were originally used inside the Kyōzō for religious ceremonies and rituals conducted by the monks of Chūsonji. Together, they form a rare surviving ensemble of Heian-period Buddhist furnishings that speaks to the extraordinary artistic ambitions of the Ōshū Fujiwara.

Why Were They Designated a National Treasure?

The Interior Furnishings of the Sutra Repository were designated a National Treasure on February 8, 1958, in recognition of several exceptional qualities. The official designation statement notes that, aside from the attached gong, all pieces are believed to date from the founding period of the Sutra Repository — placing them in the late Heian to early Kamakura period (roughly the twelfth century).

Despite the inevitable deterioration of some mother-of-pearl and lacquer over nearly nine centuries, the furnishings retain their elegant forms and masterful metalwork. The intricately engraved gilt-bronze fittings, with their delicate nanako texturing and flowing hōsōge arabesque patterns, are recognized as outstanding examples of Heian-period artistry. The ensemble is valued not only for the individual quality of each piece, but also for the rarity of having a complete set of liturgical furnishings from a single Buddhist hall surviving together — a circumstance that provides invaluable insight into how the interior of a Heian-period temple would have been appointed.

Furthermore, these furnishings complement the other National Treasures from Chūsonji, including the Golden Hall Interior Furnishings and the mother-of-pearl octagonal pedestal (Raden Hakkaku Shumidan), forming a cohesive picture of the remarkable artistic culture fostered by the Ōshū Fujiwara clan in northern Japan.

Highlights and What to Look For

When visiting the Sankōzō treasure hall at Chūsonji, keep an eye out for these remarkable details among the Kyōzō furnishings:

• The surviving mother-of-pearl inlay on the sagi-ashi (heron leg) of the offering table — notice how the iridescent shell fragments create flowing arabesque patterns against the dark lacquer ground.
• The peacock-design embossed metal fittings on the raiban (ceremonial platform), featuring tiny glass jewels that hint at the original colorful brilliance of the piece.
• The gilt-bronze fittings throughout the ensemble, especially the nanako (fish-roe) ground texture achieved by punching tiny individual dots into the metal surface — a painstaking technique demonstrating extraordinary patience and skill.
• The cast bronze peacock gong, where two peacocks face each other holding flowers in their beaks, flanking a central lotus striking point — a masterpiece of Kamakura-period metalcasting.

Compare these furnishings with the similar but separate National Treasure set from the Golden Hall (Konjikidō) also displayed in the Sankōzō. The Kyōzō furnishings feature taller, more elegant "heron leg" supports on their offering table, while the Golden Hall versions are more compact. Together, these two ensembles reveal how the Fujiwara craftsmen adapted shared design principles to suit the distinct functions and scales of different temple halls.

Where to See the Furnishings

Several pieces from the Kyōzō Interior Furnishings are displayed at the Sankōzō (讃衡蔵), Chūsonji's treasure hall, which opened in the year 2000 to preserve the temple's more than 3,000 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The mother-of-pearl inlaid offering table (raden heijin an) is among the items regularly on view here, alongside other extraordinary National Treasures such as the Fujiwara-era Buddhist sutras written in gold and silver ink.

The mother-of-pearl inlaid lamp stand (raden heijin tōdai), meanwhile, is deposited at the Tokyo National Museum, where it occasionally appears in special exhibitions. If you are planning a visit to Chūsonji, it is worth also visiting the Kyōzō building itself — the Sutra Repository stands near the Golden Hall and, though its interior has been largely cleared of its original contents, the structure retains Heian-period timbers and evokes the solemn atmosphere in which these furnishings once served their liturgical purpose.

Surrounding Attractions

Chūsonji is the crown jewel of Hiraizumi, a town that was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 under the title "Hiraizumi — Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land." There is much to explore in the area beyond the Kyōzō furnishings:

• Konjikidō (Golden Hall) — Japan's National Treasure Building No. 1, this small hall is entirely covered in gold leaf and decorated with mother-of-pearl, lacquer, and ivory. It houses the mummified remains of four generations of the Fujiwara lords.
• Mōtsūji Temple — Another World Heritage component, featuring one of Japan's finest surviving Heian-period Pure Land gardens, with a tranquil pond reflecting the surrounding landscape.
• Takadachi Gikeido — A hilltop memorial overlooking the Kitakami River, dedicated to the tragic warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who met his end in Hiraizumi. The haiku poet Matsuo Bashō composed one of his most famous verses here in 1689.
• Kanjizaiōin Ruins — The remains of a Pure Land garden built by the wife of the second Fujiwara lord, offering peaceful walks and historical contemplation.
• Genbikei Gorge — A scenic gorge about 20 minutes by car from Hiraizumi, famous for its unusual rock formations, emerald-green waters, and a legendary "flying dango" (sweet dumpling) service delivered by basket across the gorge.