National Treasure

The National Treasure 'Ink Writing by Wuzhun Shifan: Certificate of Enlightenment for Enni' at Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto is a formal inka certificate written on silk in 1237 by the great Chinese Chan master Wuzhun Shifan for his Japanese disciple Enni Ben'en. This masterpiece of Zen calligraphy documents a pivotal moment in the transmission of Zen Buddhism from China to Japan, and stands as one of the finest examples of Southern Song dynasty calligraphy preserved in Japan.

Brushed by Shunjo a month before his death in 1227, this National Treasure at Kyoto's Sennyu-ji certifies that his disciple Shinkai inherited the master's teaching.

Discover the Hōsōge Makie Hōju-bako, a National Treasure at Ninna-ji Temple in Kyoto. This early Heian-period lacquer box adorned with togidashi makie of hosoge flowers and auspicious birds is one of Japan's oldest and finest surviving examples of maki-e craftsmanship.

Discover the Lotus Sutra (Volumes 2–7), a Japanese National Treasure at Shin-nyo-dō temple in Kyoto. Commissioned by the legendary sculptor Unkei in 1183, this sacred manuscript uses wood from the burned Tōdai-ji and sacred water for its ink—a rare testament to Kamakura-era Buddhist devotion.

Discover the Bosatsu Shotai Kyo, a National Treasure sutra dating back to 550 AD housed at Chion-in temple in Kyoto. Learn about this extraordinary manuscript considered one of the world's oldest surviving handwritten Buddhist sutras.

A National Treasure at Ninna-ji, Kyoto, this dry-lacquer box was made in 919 to hold scriptures Kukai brought from Tang China. It is Japan's oldest dated maki-e.

The National Treasure 'Letter from the Portuguese Viceroy of India' at Myōhō-in Temple in Kyoto is a diplomatic letter written on parchment in 1588 by Duarte de Menezes, Portuguese Viceroy in Goa, addressed to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Adorned with oil miniature paintings and gold lettering, it was presented at Jurakudai Palace in 1591. As one of the rarest European-origin diplomatic documents preserved in Japan, it offers an extraordinary window into the Age of Discovery and early Japan-Europe relations.

Kyoto's Myōshin-ji holds a bonshō with a 698 inscription, the oldest date on any Japanese temple bell. Cast in Kyushu, it is also prized for its ōshikichō tone.

The National Treasure bell of Byodo-in is covered with apsaras, phoenixes, and lions, unmatched among Japanese bells. See it up close at the Hoshokan museum in Uji.

On Mount Takao in Kyoto, this bronze bell of 875 bears an inscription by three of the era's foremost literati, ranking among Japan's three most celebrated bells.

Discover the National Treasure esoteric Buddhist ritual implements at Tō-ji Temple in Kyoto — a gilt-bronze vajra set believed to have been brought from Tang China by Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) over 1,200 years ago. Learn about their history, significance, and how to see them.

Discover the National Treasure bokuseki (Zen calligraphy) by Mi'an Xiangjie, a revered Southern Song dynasty Chan master. This sole surviving work, housed at Ryōkōin in Kyoto's Daitoku-ji, inspired a dedicated tea room and centuries of devotion from Zen monks and tea masters alike.

Discover the Midō Kanpakuki, the world's oldest autographic diary written by Fujiwara no Michinaga over 1,000 years ago. This National Treasure and UNESCO Memory of the World document offers a vivid firsthand account of Heian court life at the peak of Japanese aristocratic culture.

Discover the National Treasure calligraphy by Mugaku Sogen, a 13th-century Zen master who defied Mongol swords with poetry. Housed at Shokoku-ji's Jotenkaku Museum in Kyoto, this 1279 masterwork reveals the spiritual bond between two Zen monks across decades.

Meigetsuki, the autograph diary kept by the great Kamakura-period poet Fujiwara no Teika over 56 years, is a National Treasure and first-class historical source documenting court politics, literature, and astronomical phenomena. Discover the 58 scrolls preserved for over 800 years by the Reizei Family Shiguretei Library, including its globally significant records of supernovae.

Discover the National Treasure Eleven-faced Kannon at Omido Kannon-ji Temple in Kyotanabe, Kyoto. This 8th-century wood-core dry lacquer masterpiece can be viewed up close without barriers — a rare and intimate encounter with Nara-period Buddhist art.

Discover the National Treasure Amida Triad at Sanzen-in Temple in Kyoto's Ohara. These rare 12th-century wooden statues depict the raigō welcome scene with the unique Yamato-zuwari posture, enshrined in the historic Ōjō Gokuraku-in Hall.

Discover the National Treasure Amida Triad at Seiryō-ji Temple in Kyoto's Arashiyama district. Commissioned by Minamoto no Tōru—the real-life inspiration for Hikaru Genji in The Tale of Genji—these majestic 9th-century Buddhist sculptures offer a rare glimpse into early Heian-period Pure Land devotion.

Discover the National Treasure wooden Amida Nyorai triad at Ninna-ji Temple in Kyoto—Japan's oldest surviving Amida triad dating from 888 CE. Learn about its Heian-era artistry, visiting seasons, and UNESCO World Heritage setting.

Discover the Seated Amida Nyorai at Byodoin's Phoenix Hall in Uji, Kyoto — the only surviving masterpiece by legendary sculptor Jocho. Learn about its history, the yosegi-zukuri technique, and how to visit this UNESCO World Heritage treasure.