Latest news with #OfficeoftheShosoinTreasureHouse
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Princess Akiko of Mikasa Appreciates Exhibition about Shoso-in Imperial Treasures in Osaka
OSAKA — Princess Akiko of Mikasa viewed an exhibition displaying the splendor of the Shoso-in Imperial treasures at the Osaka Museum of History in Osaka on Monday. Princess Akiko spent about an hour appreciating artistic ultra-high-resolution 3D images of the treasures projected onto a screen at 'Shosoin THE SHOW – Japanese Imperial Treasures / Experience the history and the miracle!' after being received by a group including Takehiko Iida, head of the Office of the Shosoin Treasure House at the Imperial Household Agency, and Takayuki Tanaka, president of The Yomiuri Shimbun, Osaka. She also observed faithfully reconstructed replicas of some of the treasures, including that of the five-stringed biwa lute of red sandalwood with mother-of-pearl inlay. According to Iida, who guided Princess Akiko, when she visited a corner where visitors could smell the recreated scent of Ojukuko, also known as Ranjatai, — a piece of incense wood said to be the finest in the world — she said it was soft and befitting the name of Ojukuko, which literally means 'ripe yellow incense.' Organized by The Yomiuri Shimbun and others, the exhibition will run through Aug. 24.
New York Post
28-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Experts solve mystery of ancient ‘mummified dragon' discovered by Japanese shogun
Researchers believe they've cracked the mystery of a mummified 'rainbow dragon' that's been sitting in a Japanese treasure house for centuries. The 'dragon' has been stashed at the Shosoin Treasure House in the historic Japanese city of Nara, according to Pen News. The remains were reportedly found by Yoshinori Ashikaga, a 15th-century shogun, in 1429. Legend states that Ashikaga cut a piece from the Ranjatai, a rare and valuable piece of agarwood, at the time of the skeleton's discovery. The shogun was visiting the Todai-ji temple in Nara at the time. Shortly after, a monk at the temple claimed to have seen 'something in the shape of a small dragon' that was dried by the sun. Ashikaga took the skeleton and preserved it. 4 The remains were reportedly found by Yoshinori Ashikaga, a 15th-century shogun, in 1429. Office of the Shosoin Treasure House 4 Researchers used X-ray technology and radiocarbon dating to date the marten back to the 11th or 12th centuries. Office of the Shosoin Treasure House But was the skeleton a dragon after all? Researchers say not quite. A recently published study said the 'dragon' was actually a female Japanese marten. The fluffy, weasel-like animal is native to central and southern Japan. 'The two premolars are clearly visible, and this characteristic indicates that it is a species of the Martes genus,' the study states. 4 The skeleton was found at the Todai-ji temple in Nara in 1429. Getty Images Using x-ray technology and radiocarbon dating, researchers found that the marten dated back to the 11th or 12th centuries. The Todai-ji temple underwent heavy renovations at the time, according to Pen News. Experts believe the animal entered the building and was trapped before it died and was mummified. Pictures show the marten missing its forelegs, making it resemble a dragon. 4 Experts believe the animal entered the building and was trapped before it died and was mummified. Office of the Shosoin Treasure House Legend states that rain would descend upon the treasure house every time the skeleton's repository was opened – and during the study, researchers fought heavy downpours that made traveling from Tokyo to Nara difficult. Mami Tsuru, a conservationist at the Shosoin Treasure House, told Pen News she's certain the skeleton is the same one recorded by the Todai-ji monk. 'The age determination has significantly increased the possibility that the mummy is the sun-dried dragon-looking object recorded in the document from the Muromachi Period,' the expert said. Tsuru added, 'We believe this is a good example of how Shosoin has protected not only beautiful items, but also all the items inside the repository.'
