National Treasure - Kokuhou

Among cultural properties existing in Japan, such as buildings, artworks, and documents, these are those that have been selected and designated as being especially valuable and worthy of being called "national treasures." In the past, designations were made under the Ancient Shrines and Temples Preservation Law and the National Treasures Preservation Law, but in August 1950 (Showa 25), a new Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties was created, and currently, designations are made based on this law. As a result, all former national treasures were changed to Important Cultural Properties, and from these, even more important ones are selected and designated as new national treasures. In addition, many cultural properties that were designated as Important Cultural Properties after 1950 have been upgraded to National Treasures, and as of July 2019 (Reiwa 1), the total number of such properties has reached 1,116. Incidentally, Living National Treasure is a colloquial term for holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"National Treasure Encyclopedia," 5 volumes, edited by Kobayashi Yukio, Inoue Yasushi, Kodama Kota, and others (1985-1986, Kodansha) " "National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties Encyclopedia," vols. 1-12 and supplementary volumes, edited by the Mainichi Newspapers Book Editorial Department, supervised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (1997-2000, Mainichi Newspapers)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本に存する建造物、美術工芸品、文書などの文化財のうち、とくに「国の宝」というべき価値高いものとして選ばれ指定されたもの。古くは古社寺保存法および国宝保存法によって指定されたが、1950年（昭和25）8月、新たに文化財保護法がつくられ、現在はそれに基づいて行われている。これによって従来の旧国宝はいったんすべて重要文化財と改められ、このなかからさらに重要なものを選んで新国宝に指定している。また1950年以後に重要文化財となったものから国宝に格上げされた文化財も多く、すべてをあわせると2019年（令和1）7月時点で1116件に及んでいる。なお、人間国宝というのは重要無形文化財の保持者に対する俗称である。

［村重　寧］

『小林行雄・井上靖・児玉幸多他監修『国宝大事典』全5巻（1985～1986・講談社）』▽『文化庁監修、毎日新聞社図書編集部編『国宝・重要文化財大全』1～12巻・別巻（1997～2000・毎日新聞社）』

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