Photo/Illutration The interior of the storage building housing the murals of Horyuji’s Kondo main hall in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, unveiled to media representatives ahead of a special viewing on Nov. 9, 2021 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

IKARUGA, Nara Prefecture--Horyuji temple here has mounted a second crowdfunding campaign to solicit donations from 630 people who will be rewarded for the generosity by being permitted to view murals scorched by a fire inside its Kondo main hall in 1949.

The exclusive viewing of the state-designated important cultural properties will start Nov. 2.

The funds will be used for studies and research to enable future viewing of the murals by the public.

Believed to have been created from the latter half of the seventh century to the first half of the eighth century, the murals adorn a total of 12 screens inside Kondo.

The paintings are renowned as ancient treasures of Buddhist art in East Asia.

The fire at Kondo broke out in January 1949, damaging the murals. The artifacts have remained in storage at a warehouse in the temple grounds since 1952. 

In 2015, Horyuji set up a mural preservation and utilization committee with the assistance of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and The Asahi Shimbun for research into ways to make the murals accessible to the public in the future.

The special viewing, which will mark the second such occasion since last year, is for a total of 25 days from Nov. 2 to 30, during which time art experts will examine the relics.

The first crowdfunding campaign was from Sept. 8 to 30, but temple authorities decided to mount a second round because there are openings in the slot.

Donations of 10,000 yen ($68) or more will be accepted until 9 a.m. on Nov. 28.

The drive will stop taking pledges at 9 a.m., two days before the visit date, even if there are still openings.

For more details, visit (https://readyfor.jp/projects/horyujikondo2022_2).

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