Keirô Drum Shell

雞婁鼓胴

At a glance — Art Object · Kamakura period, 13th 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: Kamakura period, 13th century
Date: 1201–1300
Held by: Tokyo National Museum
Location: Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID: cobas-117757

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

The keirō-ko is a type of double-headed drum that was hung from the musician’s neck and played with drumsticks when performing courtly gagaku music. This drum shell was made from a single piece of paulownia wood and retains traces of lacquer and paint on its surface. The spherical shape is a feature of keirō-ko drums from early periods.

— 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-117757 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-117757
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: “Keirô Drum Shell（雞婁鼓胴）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-117757. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/keir-drum-shell/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

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

Material: Lacquered wood
Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
Genre: Collection of Hōryūji Treasures
員数: 1口
品質形状: 木製漆塗
分類: 法隆寺宝物
法量: 高21.1 径22.2

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