Treasures of JapanA catalogue of Japan's designated cultural properties
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Important Cultural Property

Sickle

鎌
Sickle (鎌)
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-159203

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This sickle is shaped like a crescent moon. The temple legends suggest that Prince Shōtoku used it during the construction of Hōryūji, and a similar sickle is attached to the finial of the temple’s five-story pagoda and serves as a lightning rod. This sickle too might have served a role in the construction of Hōryūji.

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

Record & Sources

Cite this page: “Sickle（鎌）.” Treasures of Japan, catalogue no. cobas-159203. Tokyo National Museum. https://treasures.yamato-kenkou.com/treasures/sickle/ — 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: Iron with wood handle
  • 員数: 1挺
  • 分類: 法隆寺宝物
  • 品質形状: 鉄製木柄
  • 法量: 鎌長40.5 木柄長39.5

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