Tachibana Shrine, Buddhist shrine in Nara Prefecture, Japan
Tachibana Shrine is a shrine in Nara Prefecture, a wooden structure standing about 263 centimeters tall that holds bronze images of Buddhist deities within. The design combines a wooden frame with detailed bronze work into one compact religious piece.
The shrine was first documented in a temple inventory dating to 747 and emerged during a period when artistic styles were shifting between earlier and later traditions. Its creation occurred in a formative era of Buddhist art development in Japan.
The interior displays a bronze plaque showing a lotus pond, where three stalks support a gilded bronze group of Buddhist figures. This arrangement connects religious meaning with careful craftsmanship.
The shrine is owned by the Horyu-ji temple complex and can be most easily reached through the temple grounds. It helps to know that this object is quite small and may not always be located in a publicly accessible spot.
The front doors feature painted guardian figures applied with gold paste on a lacquer base, and one of these original doors is now kept in a private collection. This separation means visitors cannot see the complete original design in one location anymore.
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