Tōdai-ji, the Shōsō-in
- Date:
- Shōwa period, dated 1941
- Medium:
- Woodblock print; ink on paper
- Dimensions:
- 76.2 × 58.4 cm
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
Description
Tōdai-ji's Shōsō-in — the imperial treasury that has stored the possessions of Emperor Shōmu since the 8th century — is rendered here in woodblock, ink on paper, dated to the Shōwa period in 1941. The treasury's distinctive azekura construction — horizontal logs stacked in alternating notched corners, allowing the walls to expand and contract with humidity — was believed to naturally regulate the interior climate, protecting its irreplaceable contents.
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tōdai-ji, the Shōsō-in was created by Hiratsuka Un'ichi (平塚運一) in Shōwa period, dated 1941.
Tōdai-ji, the Shōsō-in depicts temples & shrines and architecture.
Tōdai-ji, the Shōsō-in measures 76.2 × 58.4 cm.



