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MASTERPIECESof Japan
Photograph of Gilt-bronze Kanjō Banner

Gilt-bronze Kanjō Banner

金銅灌頂幡

National TreasureBuddhist banner (ban) — Asuka – Nara period

National Treasure

Gilt-bronze Kanjō Banner

金銅灌頂幡

Type
Buddhist banner (ban)
Period and date
Asuka – Nara period, Asuka period
Material
Openwork gilt bronze
Collection:
Hōryū-ji Treasures at Tokyo National Museum

03 — Overview

Banners were usually made of cloth; this one is pierced and gilded bronze, a technique and material without parallel. Considered a defining work of ancient Japanese metalwork. From the Hōryū-ji Treasures, Tokyo National Museum.

04 — Object data

Designation
National TreasureSource ↗
Type
Buddhist banner (ban)
Category
Metalwork
Period
Asuka – Nara period
Date
Asuka period
Material
Openwork gilt bronze
Technique
Openwork, Gilding
Collection
Hōryū-ji Treasures at Tokyo National Museum
05 — Detail · Kanjoban18 · By 国立文化財機構 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

10 — Gallery

12 — Collection

Hōryū-ji Treasures at Tokyo National Museum

13 — Related objects

Photograph of Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Sword Guard (Tsuba)

鍔

Sword fitting (tsuba)

Photograph of Tenjukoku Shūchō (Embroidered Curtain of the Land of Heavenly Longevity)

Tenjukoku Shūchō (Embroidered Curtain of the Land of Heavenly Longevity)

天寿国繡帳

Embroidered curtain — Asuka – Nara· National Treasure

14 — Sources & references

  1. [1]
    金銅灌頂幡

    文化庁 国指定文化財等データベース · Government · Supports: Designation, Name

  2. [2]
    Wikidata Q107045064

    Wikidata · Database · Supports: Name, Date, Maker, Collection · Accessed 2026-09-25

  3. [3]
    金銅灌頂幡

    Wikipedia（日本語版） · Encyclopedia · Supports: Description · Accessed 2026-09-25

  4. [4]
    File:Kanjoban18.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

  5. [5]
    File:Kanjo banner1.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

  6. [6]
    File:Kanjo banner2.jpg

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

  7. [7]
    File:Kanjoban hue.png

    Wikimedia Commons · Image host

15 — Image credits

  1. Kanjoban18

    Creator / Photographer
    国立文化財機構
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Kanjoban18.jpg ↗
    Credit
    Colbase
    Licence
    CC BY 4.0 ↗

  2. Kanjo banner1

    Creator / Photographer
    Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Kanjo banner1.jpg ↗
    Credit
    Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko(Tokyo Fine Arts School and Tokyo Music School): HORYUJI OKAGAMI (64 VOLUMES) [The Great Art of the Horyuji Temple] Volume 57th, 1918-09-30, Tokyo, Japan
    Licence
    Public domain

  3. Kanjo banner2

    Creator / Photographer
    ReijiYamashina
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Kanjo banner2.jpg ↗
    Credit
    Own work
    Licence
    CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗

  4. Kanjoban hue

    Creator / Photographer
    Keeezawa
    Source
    Wikimedia Commons — File:Kanjoban hue.png ↗
    Credit
    Own work https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/tnm/N-58?locale=ja および https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/tnm/N-32?locale=ja からダウンロードした画像を加工
    Licence
    CC BY 4.0 ↗
All image credits →