Photo/Illutration Chief priest Hirotada Kasannoin looks at the statues of lion, right, and “komainu” (lion dog) at Kasuga Taisha shrine in Nara on Sept. 30. The artifacts are on display at a special exhibition being held at the Nara National Museum in Nara. (Yoshiaki Arai)

NARA--Priceless treasures from Kasuga Taisha here are on display to celebrate the rebuilding of Wakamiyajinja, an auxiliary shrine within the complex.

The renovation, called “shikinen zotai,” is carried out every 20 years or so. The 43rd one concluded Oct. 28.

A special exhibition, “Splendors of Court Devotion: Shrine Treasures from Wakamiya and Kasuga Taisha in Nara,” being held at the Nara National Museum showcases around 90 artifacts, including 24 national treasures and 10 important cultural properties.

The entire collection of “Wakamiya Goryo Koshinporui” (Imperial sacred treasures of Wakamiya), which was enshrined at Wakamiyajinja when it was founded in 1135 to worship a deity associated with Kasuga Taisha, is on display.

“We want visitors to see the beauty of the imperial court in the Heian Period (794-1185) as well as the splendor observed by aristocrats at the time (with replicas),” said Hirotada Kasannoin, chief priest at Kasuga Taisha, a World Heritage site.

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Replicas of golden cranes mounted on “suhama” stands are on display at the Nara National Museum. (Yoshiaki Arai)

Replicas of golden cranes perched on silver branches mounted on “suhama” stands modeled after a sandy beach were recreated by Morihito Katsura, a metal artist designated as a living national treasure, to coincide with the renovation.

Statues of lion and “komainu” (lion dog) from the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), which are usually housed at the shrine building, are being shown to the public for the first time.

“Kasuga Gongen Genki-e” (Legends of Kasuga Shrine), a national treasure set of illustrated scrolls from the Kamakura Period depicting part of Wakamiyajinja, is also among the exhibits.

The special exhibition, sponsored by The Asahi Shimbun and other entities, runs until Jan. 22. Some exhibits will be replaced for the second part of the exhibition.

Admission is 1,600 yen ($11) for adults, 1,400 yen for high school and college students and 700 yen for elementary and junior high school students.

The Nara National Museum is generally closed on Mondays and during the year-end and New Year holidays.

For inquiries, visit the museum’s official website at (https://www.narahaku.go.jp/english/).

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