Craft · No. 166
No. 166仏壇･仏具
Sanjo Butsudan (Buddhist Altars)
三条仏壇
sanjo butsudan · 新潟県
Sanjo Butsudan are elaborately crafted Buddhist household altars produced in and around Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture. They are distinguished by their meticulous metalwork fittings, rich lacquerwork, and robust joinery, representing one of Japan's finest altar-making traditions.
- Origin
- 新潟県
- Category
- 仏壇･仏具
- Materials
- Wood · Lacquer · Gold
- Designation
- Nat'l Traditional Craft
No. IHistory
The origins of Sanjo Butsudan trace back to the Edo period, when Sanjo was already a thriving center for metal goods production. As Buddhism spread in…
No. IIMaterials
No. IIITechniques
The production of Sanjo Butsudan relies on a highly specialized division of labor, with distinct artisans handling woodworking, lacquering, maki-e pai…
No. IVClimate
Sanjo and the broader Niigata region experience heavy snowfall and long winters, conditions that historically encouraged the development of meticulous…
