The Shōsōin (正倉院) is a structure at Tōdai-ji in Nara, Japan. The building is in the azekura log-cabin style, with a raised floor. It lies to the northwest of the Daibutsuden (which houses the Great Buddha). The Shōsōin houses artifacts connected to Emperor Temmu and Empress Komyo, as well as arts and crafts of the Tempyō period of Japanese history. It was formerly a storehouse belonging to Tōdai-ji, but after the Meiji Restoration, it came under the administration of the national government, and since World War II has been under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency. It is on the UNESCO register of World Heritage Sites as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara. It is also a national treasure of Japan. Jump to: navigation, search Nara (Japanese: 奈良市, Nara-shi) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan, near Kyoto. ... Jump to: navigation, search A stone image of the Buddha. ... Emperor Temmu (天武天皇) (c. ... Jump to: navigation, search The history of Japan probably started around 500,000 BC, date when the earliest stone tool implements have been found. ... The Meiji Restoration (Japanese: 明治維新, Meiji-ishin), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to a change in Japans political and social structure. ... There is still dispute as to whether Japan is a constitutional monarchy or a republic. ... Jump to: navigation, search World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ... The Imperial Household Agency is a government agency of Japan in charge of the state matters concerning Japans royal family. ... Jump to: navigation, search UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. ... Jump to: navigation, search World Heritage Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ... The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the government of Japan designates the most famous of the nations cultural properties as National Treasures (国宝: kokuhō). ...

One of the treasures of Shōsōin is an ivory one-shaku ruler. Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Japanese unit. ...

External link

Imperial Household Agency page for Shōsōin (in Japanese)