Box with Green Glass and Pearl Inlays

玉荘箱

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-117737

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

This box is recorded in the Inventory of Hōryūji Temple’s Eastern Precinct of 761 as having been given to the temple in 742 by the wife of Emperor Shōmu, Tachibana no Konakachi. It reportedly contained The Lotus Sutra in Small Characters (N-7) and was kept atop Sutra Desk with Tortoiseshell (N-70). The edges are decorated with alternating ornaments of pearls and green glass beads.

— 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-117737 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-117737
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: “Box with Green Glass and Pearl Inlays（玉荘箱）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-117737. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/box-with-green-glass-and-pearl-inlays/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

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