Overview
Armourers turned to altars in peacetime; seven separate trades now build each one.
About this place
Hikone Butsudan is the general name for gold-leaf Buddhist altars made in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, and the surrounding area. It was the first in the Buddhist altar and implements industry to be designated a traditional craft by the Minister of International Trade and Industry, in 1975 (Showa 50). The origin of Hikone Butsudan is said to be in the middle of the Edo period, when lacquerers, cabinetmakers and metalworkers who had been involved in making weapons and armor turned to making Buddhist altars.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Key facts
Founded / opened:1700s Highlights / collection:Division of labour among seven trades, Lacquer and gold leaf Genre:Lacquer art, Metalwork, Sculpture
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