Kamakura

The early Kamakura octagonal hall of the Keikyuin at Koryuji, Kyoto, a National Treasure since 1953, a light and elegant round hall of about 1251.

This stone pagoda of thirteen storeys in a Kamo cemetery in Kizugawa, dated 1298, is a late Kamakura monument protected since 1937 as an Important Cultural Property.

Kamakura-period mikoshi store at Sakatoke Shrine on Mount Tenno, Oyamazaki, Kyoto: a tiled store of stacked squared timbers at Otokuni's oldest shrine.

The stone pagoda of Tenjin Shrine in Kizugawa, Kyoto, raised in 1277 in the mid-Kamakura period, is among the oldest thirteen-storey pagodas with a known date.

A granite thirteen-story pagoda at Hōsen-ji in Kyotanabe, Kyoto, dated 1278 by its inscription and signed by a mason of the Song-Chinese stone-carving lineage.

A late Kamakura main hall at Honganji, a Jodo temple in Kumihama, Kyotango, designated 1904: Tango's only medieval Buddhist hall, under a gentle cypress-bark roof.

Early Kamakura stone pagoda at Raigoin in Ohara, Kyoto, venerated as the grave of Ryonin, who founded the temple as the centre of Tendai shomyo chant.

The main hall of Rengeoin in Kyoto, rebuilt in 1266 to house a thousand Kannon images: a 35-bay hall of Kamakura-period wayo style, made a National Treasure in 1952.

Seven Kamakura scrolls at Kozanji, Kyoto, telling the stories of the Silla monks Uisang and Wonhyo, a National Treasure since 1952.

A National Treasure at Nishi Honganji, Kyoto: a handscroll on which Shinran, founder of Shin Buddhism, copied the Amida Sutra and noted commentaries in the margins.

Yuan Chan master Yunfeng Miaogao's 1284 colophon on a calligraphy by his dharma ancestor Dahui Zonggao. An Important Cultural Property at Kyoto's Kitamura Museum.

A Tang-dynasty stole of Toji, Kyoto, said to have come to Kukai from his teacher Huiguo, a National Treasure since 1953.

Discover the Omuro Sōshōki, a National Treasure housed at UNESCO World Heritage Site Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto. This six-scroll Kamakura-period manuscript chronicles the Buddhist ceremonies and achievements of the imperial abbots who led one of Japan's most prestigious monzeki temples.

Emperor Kameyama's own draft prayer of 1299 for the founding of Nanzenji, Kyoto, a National Treasure since 1953.

The National Treasure Kanmuryōjukyō Chū, preserved at Nishi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto, is a Kamakura-period handscroll in which Shinran, the founder of Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism, copied the Contemplation Sutra and filled every margin with meticulous annotations from commentaries by the Chinese master Shan-tao. Discovered in 1943, this rare autograph manuscript offers an extraordinary glimpse into the young founder's rigorous scriptural study and spiritual development.

Discover the National Treasure bokuseki calligraphy by Chinese Chan master Xutang Zhiyu, preserved at Daitoku-ji temple in Kyoto. Learn about its Zen heritage, tea ceremony significance, and how to view this masterpiece.

The only autograph copy of Shinran's Kyogyoshinsho, handed down at Bando Hoonji and now at Higashi Honganji, Kyoto, a National Treasure since 1952.

A Tang manuscript of the Chinese dictionary Yupian at Kozanji, Kyoto, a National Treasure since 1952, lost in China and completed by the second half at Ishiyamadera.

Eleven signed waka sheets from a 1200 poetry session on the Kumano road, led by retired emperor Go-Toba, now one National Treasure scroll at Nishi Hongan-ji, Kyoto.

Three poem sheets of 1201 written by Emperor Go-Toba, Fujiwara no Ietaka and Jakuren at gatherings on the road to Kumano; a National Treasure at Kyoto's Yomei Bunko.