Bowl

𡑮鉢

At a glance — Art Object · Nara period, 8th century · held by Tokyo National Museum · designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Fact Sheet

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財)
Category: Art Objects
Period: Nara period, 8th century
Date: 701–800
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-117922

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Same period: Nara art objects →
At this museum: All 1632 works here →

This kind of bowl was used by monks for offering food and drinks to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It was made using the so-called “dry lacquer” technique, in which layers of cloth were repeatedly pressed against a mold and affixed with lacquer to shape this bowl, a bit like papier-mâché. This technique was also frequently used to make Buddhist sculptures during the 8th century.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.

Record & Sources

Designation: Important Cultural Property (重要文化財), Government of Japan
Catalogue ID: cobas-117922 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-117922
Holder's collection: ColBase — Tokyo National Museum
Photograph: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0. CC BY 4.0 licence

Cite this page: “Bowl（𡑮鉢）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-117922. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/bowl-117922/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)