Itsukushima Shrine: Net Bag for Heike Nokyo
Heike Nokyo, the set of 33 ornamental sutra scrolls dedicated to Itsukushima Shrine by the powerful political and court figure Taira no Kiyomori (1118–1181) both as a pious offering and as a symbol of the Taira clan’s power, is perhaps the most significant of the shrine’s many priceless treasures. Presented in 1164, the scrolls survive in their entirety, as does the box that contained them and the net-like bag used to carry the box. The semi-transparent net bag, a reproduction of which is displayed here, was used in order that the intricate gold and silver decorations on the copper storage box would remain visible while carried. The original is a designated National Treasure.