Craft · No. 174
No. 174仏壇･仏具
Kyo Butsudan (Kyoto Buddhist Altars)
京仏壇
kyo butsudan · 京都府
Kyo Butsudan are ornate Buddhist household altars crafted in Kyoto, distinguished by their extraordinary beauty achieved through the collaboration of master artisans skilled in lacquerwork, gold leaf application, maki-e, intricate wood carving, and kirikane gilding.
- Origin
- 京都府
- Category
- 仏壇･仏具
- Materials
- Wood · Lacquer · Gold
- Designation
- Nat'l Traditional Craft
No. IHistory
The origins of Kyo Butsudan are deeply intertwined with Kyoto's long history as Japan's center of Buddhist culture. As the imperial capital, Kyoto att…
No. IIMaterials
No. IIITechniques
The creation of a Kyo Butsudan is a collaborative achievement involving a division of labor among numerous specialist craftspeople: woodworkers, lacqu…
No. IVClimate
Kyoto's basin climate — characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters — creates conditions well suited to the curing of urushi lacquer, wh…
