Donation book - Kenmotsucho

In the Nara period, these were catalogs and statements of intent that were attached to offerings to gods and Buddhas. The most famous is the one that was sent when Empress Komyo and Empress Koken donated the precious treasures left by Emperor Shomu after his death on May 2, 756 (when Emperor Shomu was 8 years old) to Todaiji Temple and the other 17 great temples. Six documents remain: (1) National Treasures Register dated June 21st, Tenpyo Shoho, age 8; (2) Various Medicine Register dated the same day; (3) Screen and Flower Arrangement Register dated July 26th, Tenpyo Shoho, age 8; (4) Authentic Book of Daisho-o and His Imperial Highnesses dated June 1st, Tenpyo Houji 2nd year (758); (5) Authentic Screen Register of Fujiwara-no-Kimi (Fuhito), dated October 1st, Tenpyo Houji 2nd year; (6) Book of Offerings to Horyu-ji Temple dated July 8th, Tenpyo Shoho, age 8. (1)-(5) are from the Shosoin Repository. (6) is from Horyu-ji Temple and is in the possession of the Tokyo National Museum. Among the treasures listed in the offering book are the black-stained hanging sword worn by Prince Kusakabe, the red lacquered oak wood cabinet (still in existence) that has been handed down since Emperor Tenmu, and many other items still on display in the Shosoin Repository.

[Eiichi Ishigami]

"Shosoin Office, ed., 'Calligraphical remains of Shosoin' (1964, Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha)" ▽ "Goto Shiro, ed., 'The history of Shosoin' (included in 'Japanese Art' No. 140, 1978, Shibundo)" ▽ "Sekine Masataka, 'Book of offerings' (included in 'Japanese ancient document studies course 2', 1978, Yuzankaku Publishing)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代、神仏への奉納物に添えた内容目録・趣意書。756年（天平勝宝8歳）5月2日の聖武(しょうむ)太上天皇の没後、光明(こうみょう)皇太后・孝謙(こうけん)天皇がその遺品の珍宝等を、東大寺および他の一七大寺に献納したときのものが著名である。(1)天平勝宝(てんぴょうしょうほう)八歳六月二十一日国家珍宝帳、(2)同日種々薬帳、(3)天平勝宝八歳七月二十六日屏風花氈(びょうぶかせん)等帳、(4)天平宝字(ほうじ)二年（758）六月一日大小王真蹟(しんせき)帳、(5)天平宝字二年十月一日藤原公（不比等(ふひと)）真蹟屏風帳、(6)天平勝宝八歳七月八日法隆寺献物帳の6通が現存する。(1)～(5)は正倉院伝来。(6)は法隆寺伝来で東京国立博物館所蔵。献物帳所載の宝物等には、草壁(くさかべ)皇子佩用(はいよう)の黒作懸佩刀(くろづくりかけはきのたち)、天武(てんむ)天皇以来伝世の赤漆文欟木厨子(せきしつぶんかんぼくのずし)（現存）などもあり、またそのほかにも正倉院に現存しているものが多数ある。

［石上英一］

『正倉院事務所編『正倉院の書蹟』（1964・日本経済新聞社）』▽『後藤四郎編「正倉院の歴史」（『日本の美術』第140号所収・1978・至文堂）』▽『関根真隆「献物帳」（『日本古文書学講座2』所収・1978・雄山閣出版）』

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