Name: Niigata / Shirone Butsudan — MASTER'S ARTISTRY
Uploaded: 2015-01-01
Description: Dating to the Edo period, these altars express the Pure Land paradise in a small space through the combined skill of five specialist crafts: woodwork,

Niigata / Shirone Butsudan

Five crafts united in one sacred space

Dating to the Edo period, these altars express the Pure Land paradise in a small space through the combined skill of five specialist crafts: woodwork, carving, lacquering, gold-leaf, and metalwork. Niigata / Shirone Butsudan are particularly distinguished by elaborate maki-e (gold powder lacquer) decoration.

Niigata / Shirone Butsudan

Buddhist Altars of Niigata & Shirone

Origins trace to the early Edo period, when garanji (specialist temple builders) crafted altars in the Kyoto white-wood style.

The intricate inner shrine (kuuden) replicates each sect's temple sanctuary at miniature scale. Fine cypress and princess-pine wood is lacquered, then adorned with maki-e gold-powder painting, gold leaf, and metalwork.

Niigata / Shirone Butsudan stand out for the richness and quantity of their maki-e decoration.

○ Main production area: Niigata City

Niigata Butsudan Association
547-3 Sakeyamachi, Konan-ku, Niigata 950-0324 / Tel: 025-280-2236
Shirone Butsudan Cooperative
1240-3 Shirone, Minami-ku, Niigata 950-1217
Tel: 025-373-4181 / Fax: 025-373-4199
Email: shirones@niigata-inet.or.jp