Sash Fragments with Glass Beads and Pearls

玉帯残欠

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-159194

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

The colored yarns of this sash have been interlaced in a pattern comprised of intersecting diagonal lines that changes from darker to lighter tones. The sash purportedly belonged to Emperor Shōmu. Notably, pearl and glass beads of various colors are threaded directly onto the yarns. This feature is extremely unusual among extant [kumihimo], with no similar examples known to exist even in the Shōsō-in Treasures. This suggests the sash was worn by a person of high social standing.

— 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-159194 (permanent)
Official record: Japan Search — jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-159194
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: “Sash Fragments with Glass Beads and Pearls（玉帯残欠）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-159194. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/sash-fragments-with-glass-beads-and-pearls/ — entry last verified 1 November 2026.

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