museum cabinet
for private collection
Shoso-in
Located within the temple grounds of Todaiji temple, Shoso-in housed more than 9,000 precious works of art and handicraft. Its collection includes clothes, musical instruments, books, and weapons that found their way into the former capital of Nara via the Silk Road from China, India, and Persia. Shoso-in is a wooden treasure house that continues to stand today, having miraculously survived numerous earthquakes and fires in its long history since it was built over 1200 years ago. It is believed that the “azekurazukuri” architectural style of stacking triangular cross-sections of Japanese cypress timber in a grid-like manner has protected the furnishings from the humid climate in Japan, and the raised-floor construction technique which elevated the building’s floor above ground level has kept it from being damaged by insects. Many of the treasures housed in Shoso-in are still being preserved in excellent condition, with the dyed fabrics on display showcasing their vivid colors and the pieces of jewelry retaining their original shape. These items continue to share the history and culture of the Nara period with visitors to Shoso-in today. This historic wooden structure has a magnificent width of 33 meters and rests on the ground in a stunningly elegant fashion.
The simplicity of its construction captures the essence of the beauty of Japan.
東大寺境内にある正倉院には、9,000点にも及ぶ貴重な美術工芸品が大切に納められていました。中国やインド、ペルシャからシルクロードを通って、服飾品や楽器、書物、武具が奈良の都へ伝来しました。
正倉院は長い歴史の中で、奇跡的に震災や火災をまぬがれ、1200余年前に建てられた当時の姿が今に残る木造の宝庫です。ヒノキの三角材を井桁に積み上げた校倉造り（あぜくらづくり）は日本の多湿な気候から調度品を守り、床を地面から持ち上げた高床式は虫害を防いだと言われています。多くの宝物はコンディションが良く、染織は鮮やかな色彩を保ち、宝飾品は当時のままの形を残し、奈良時代の歴史と文化を今に伝えています。
この歴史ある木造建築は幅33メートルの雄大な間口を構え、地面からすっと立ち上がった姿は端正で悠然としています。簡素なつくりの中に日本の潔い美しさが表れています。
This cabinet is reminiscent of the simple but stunning poise of Shoso-in.
Natural light filters gently into every corner of the cabinet through the glass and creates a natural setting for the tableware, glasses, books, and precious collections that are placed in the cabinet. The inner edge of the cabinet’s outer frame features a classical rounded “tamabuchi” design, while its sliding doors have been chamfered with a Japanese gingko-shaped bevel, allowing the cabinet to exude a Japanese and Oriental impression. This cabinet’s design is based on the theme of “Oriental beauty,” which goes beyond the boundaries of Japanese aesthetics by also drawing on the aesthetics of China and Korea to arrive at a unique concept of beauty that is simple, subtle, and refined.
簡素で美しい正倉院の姿から連想したキャビネットです。ガラス越しに自然光がキャビネットの隅々にまで回り込み、収納された食器やグラス、書籍、収集した思い出のコレクションを自然な佇まいで浮かび上がらせます。外側のフレームの内側には丸い形状の古典的な「玉縁」の意匠を取り入れ、日本式の引戸の扉は銀杏面の面取加工をし、製品全体に日本的、東洋的な印象を持たせました。日本という枠を超え、中国と韓国と日本の美意識が繋がり、静謐で素朴な中にも洗練された美しさを持つ、「東洋の美」をテーマとしました。
