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Important Cultural Property

Marbles ("Hitori-mizutori-dama")

火取水取玉
Marbles ("Hitori-mizutori-dama") (火取水取玉)
PLATE IImage: Tokyo National Museum, via ColBase — CC BY 4.0
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
Date
701–800
Location
Ueno, Tokyo
Catalogue ID
cobas-117762

Find more

According to the Record of Hōryūji and Biography of Prince Shōtoku (N-18), these marbles were treasured playthings of Prince Shōtoku (574–622) when he was five or six years old. Attached to a net-like braid, the marbles may have been worn as waist ornaments.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Marbles ("Hitori-mizutori-dama")（火取水取玉）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-117762. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/marbles-hitori-mizutori-dama/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.
Full record data (as published in the official catalogue record)
  • Cultural property designation: Important Cultural Property
  • Genre: Collection of Hōryūji Treasures
  • Material: Quartz and amber
  • 員数: 12顆
  • 分類: 法隆寺宝物
  • 法量: （水晶大型丸玉）径3.8 （琥珀角玉）方1.6
  • 品質形状: 水晶・琥珀

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