:List of National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)
{{short description|None}}
File:Enchin ordination document.jpg from 833]]
The term "National Treasure" has been used in Japan to denote cultural properties since 1897.{{cite book
|last= Coaldrake
|first= William Howard
|title= Architecture and authority in Japan
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bCLNX8_a4WQC&q=Law+for+the+Preservation+of+Ancient+Shrines+and+Temples&pg=PA248
|orig-year= 1996
|year= 2002
|publisher= Routledge
|location= London, New York
|isbn= 0-415-05754-X
|page= 248
|access-date= 2020-10-15
|archive-date= 2023-02-19
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230219122505/https://books.google.com/books?id=bCLNX8_a4WQC&q=Law+for+the+Preservation+of+Ancient+Shrines+and+Temples&pg=PA248
|url-status= live
}}{{Harvnb|Enders|Gutschow|1998|p=12}}
The definition and the criteria have changed since the introduction of the term. These ancient documents adhere to the current definition, and have been designated National Treasures since the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties came into effect on June 9, 1951. The items are selected by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, a special body of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, based on their "especially high historical or artistic value".{{cite web
|title = Cultural Properties for Future Generations
|url = http://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/shuppanbutsu/bunkazai_pamphlet/pdf/pamphlet_en_03_ver05.pdf
|publisher = Agency for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Properties Department
|location = Tokyo, Japan
|date = March 2017
|access-date = 2017-12-17
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171216231044/http://www.bunka.go.jp/tokei_hakusho_shuppan/shuppanbutsu/bunkazai_pamphlet/pdf/pamphlet_en_03_ver05.pdf
|archive-date = 2017-12-16
|url-status = dead
}} "Ancient documents" is one of thirteen categories of National Treasures recognized by the agency. The list presents 63 documents or sets of documents from classical to early modern Japan, from the Asuka period to the Meiji period. The actual number of items is more than 63 because groups of related objects have been combined into single entries. The list contains items of various types, such as letters, diaries, records or catalogues, certificates, imperial decrees, testaments and maps. The documents record early Japanese government and Buddhism including early Japanese contact with China, the organization of the state and life at the Japanese imperial court. They are housed in 14 Japanese cities in temples (35), museums (13), libraries or archives (6), shrines (4), universities (2) and in private collections (2). Most entries (28) in the list are located in Kyoto. The documents in this list were made predominantly with a writing brush on paper and, in many cases, present important examples of calligraphy.{{cite web
| publisher = Agency for Cultural Affairs
| script-title = ja:国指定文化財 データベース
| trans-title = Database of National Cultural Properties
| access-date = 2009-04-16
| date = 2008-11-01
| url = http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index.asp
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2009-03-30
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090330140022/http://www.bunka.go.jp/bsys/index.asp
| url-status = dead
}}
Writing was physically introduced to Japan from China in the form of inscribed artifacts at the beginning of the Christian era. Examples, some of which have been designated as archaeological National Treasures, include coins of the reign of Wang Mang (AD 8–25), a 1st-century gold seal from Shikanoshima, a late 2nd century iron sword from the Tōdaijiyama burial mound, the Seven-Branched Sword with inscription from 369 and a large number of bronze mirrors—the oldest dating to the 3rd century.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=10}}{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=11}} All of these artifacts originated on the continent, most likely in China. However, the written inscriptions on them may not have been recognized as writing but instead may have been mistaken for decorations by the Japanese. When the Japanese later manufactured locally copies of original Chinese mirrors, they may have continued to believe the written inscriptions to be merely decorative.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=12}}{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=13}}
The concept of writing came to Japan from the Korean kingdom of Baekje in the form of classical Chinese books likely written on paper and in the form of manuscript rolls (kansubon).{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=9}} This probably happened at the beginning of the 5th century (around 400), and certainly during the 6th century.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=6}}{{cite web
| url = http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/hist.html
| title = Historic Archaeological Periods in Japan
| first = Charles T.
| last = Keally
| date = 2009-06-14
| work = Japanese Archaeology
| publisher = Charles T. Keally
| access-date = 2010-09-09
| archive-date = 2011-05-15
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110515063920/http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/hist.html
| url-status = live
}} According to legend, the scholar Wani introduced the Chinese writing system as well as Confucianism to Japan. The oldest texts of Japanese origin, which show a clear understanding of the concept of writing, date to the 5th century and are—like most texts from before 700—inscriptions on stone or metal.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=16}}
Examples include three archaeological National Treasures: Suda Hachiman Shrine Mirror from about the 5th century, which is a poor copy of a Chinese original, the Inariyama Sword from 471 or 531 and the Eta Funayama burial mound sword from about the 5th century.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=17}}{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=24}} The abrupt transition from an unfamiliarity with writing to reading and writing complicated works in a foreign language required the earliest Japanese texts be composed and read by people from the continent such as Wani. The Inariyama Sword is also the oldest example of man'yōgana use, a writing system that employs Chinese characters to represent the Japanese language.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=23}} Soon after the introduction of writing, scribes were appointed to the provinces to "record events and report conditions".{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=8}}{{Harvnb|Sakamoto|1991|p=3}}
While writing in Japan was limited during the 5th and 6th centuries, the number of documents written locally increased in the 7th century; though most of them have been lost.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=40}} By the end of the 7th century, increased cultural dependence on China caused reading and writing, particularly in government and religion, to become an integral part of Japanese life. There were two major factors for this development: starting with the Taika Reforms (645–649) and continuing with the Asuka Kiyomihara Code (689) and censuses from 670 and 690, a Chinese-style centralized state was formed, requiring the need for a large number of officials who were literate and educated in, among others, Confucian texts at the Daigakuryo ("University") founded under Emperor Tenchi. The second factor was the increasing popularity of Buddhism, which had been introduced to Japan in the mid-6th century and strongly promoted by Prince Shōtoku (574–622). The Sangyō Gisho ("Annotated Commentaries on the Three Sutras"), traditionally attributed to Prince Shōtoku, is the oldest extant Japanese text of any length.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=41}} Buddhism required the study of sutras written in Chinese, and the state founded a Sutra Copying Bureau (shakyōjo) before 727.Probably much before this date. The oldest Japanese books are two chronicles, Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, from the early 8th century. While the phonogram orthography enjoyed increasing popularity during the 8th century, it was not yet used for longer prose. The modern kana, notably hiragana and katakana were developed in the Heian period.{{Harvnb|Seeley|1991|p=55}}
Statistics
Almost half of all entries in the list are located in Kyoto.
File:National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents).png
| class="wikitable" style="width:35%; text-align:center; background:#fff; float:left;" |
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffdead;"| Prefecture
! style="text-align:center; background:#ffdead;"| City ! style="text-align:center; background:#ffdead;"| National Treasures |
|---|
| style="background:#efefef;" | Chiba
| style="background:#efefef;" | Sakura | style="background:#efefef;" | 2 |
| Fukuoka
| Fukuoka | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Gifu
| style="background:#efefef;" | Motosu | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| rowspan="2"| Kyoto
| Kyoto | 28 |
| Miyazu
| 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Miyagi
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tagajō | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Nara
| Nara | 4 |
| style="background:#efefef;" rowspan="2"| Osaka
| style="background:#efefef;" | Kawachinagano | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Shimamoto
| style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| rowspan="2"| Shiga
| Nagahama | 1 |
| Ōtsu
| 8 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Shizuoka
| style="background:#efefef;" | Makinohara | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| Tochigi
| Ōtawara | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tokyo
| style="background:#efefef;" | Tokyo | style="background:#efefef;" | 10 |
| Wakayama
| Kōya | 1 |
| style="background:#efefef;" | Yamagata
| style="background:#efefef;" | Yonezawa | style="background:#efefef;" | 1 |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:#fff; float:left;" |
| style="text-align:left; background:#ffdead;"| PeriodOnly the oldest period is counted, if a National Treasure consists of items from more than one period.
! style="text-align:left; background:#ffdead;"| National Treasures |
|---|
| Asuka period
| 1 |
| Nara period
| 9 |
| Heian period
| 32 |
| Tang dynasty
| 1 |
| Kamakura period
| 17 |
| Yuan dynasty
| 1 |
| Nanboku-chō period
| 1 |
| Momoyama period
| 1 |
{{Clear}}
Usage
The table's columns (except for Content and Images) are sortable pressing the arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.
- Name: the name as registered in the Database of National Cultural Properties
- Author: name of the author(s)
- Content: information about the type of document and its content
- Date: period and year; The column entries sort by year. If only a period is known, they sort by the start year of that period.
- Format: principal type, technique and dimensions; The column entries sort by the main type: scroll (includes handscrolls and letters), collection (sets of items) and other (includes textiles, hanging scrolls, stone inscriptions and folding books 帖)
- Present location: "building-name temple/museum/shrine-name town-name prefecture-name"; The column entries sort as "prefecture-name town-name".
- Image: picture of the document or of a characteristic document in a group of documents
Treasures
| Kūkai
| List of people and deities who underwent the Abhiseka ritual at {{nihongo|Takaosan-ji|高雄山寺}} (now Jingo-ji) in 812, presided by Kūkai
| Heian period, 812
| {{sort|rolled scroll|rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|29.0|x|268.4|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Name List of Abhiseka.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Official Register and Inventory for Kanshin-ji|観心寺縁起資財帳|Kanshin-ji engi shizaichō}}{{cite web
| script-title = ja:観心寺縁起資財帳
| trans-title = Official Register and Inventory for Kanshinji
| publisher = Kawachinagano city
| access-date = 2009-04-30
| language = ja
| url = http://www.city.kawachinagano.lg.jp/static/kakuka/kyousha/history-hp/bunkazai/date-base/isan-date/nation/kokuhou/kokuho06.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721135709/http://www.city.kawachinagano.lg.jp/static/kakuka/kyousha/history-hp/bunkazai/date-base/isan-date/nation/kokuhou/kokuho06.html
| archive-date = 2011-07-21
| url-status = dead
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Document containing the reason and circumstances of the establishment of Kanshin-ji temple and a list of the temple's assets from that time
| Heian period, September 15, 883
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| Kanshin-ji, Kawachinagano, Osaka
| File:Inventory for Kanshinji.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Inventory of Kanzeon-ji|観世音寺資財帳|kanzeonji shizaichō}}{{cite web
| script-title = ja:観世音寺資財帳
| trans-title = Inventory of Kanzeon-ji
| publisher = Tokyo University of the Arts
| access-date = 2009-04-30
| url = http://db.am.geidai.ac.jp/object.cgi?id=1284
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2007-12-24
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071224214524/http://db.am.geidai.ac.jp/object.cgi?id=1284
| url-status = live
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Inventory of Kanzeon-ji
| Heian period, October 1, 905
| {{sort|rolled scroll|three rolled scrolls, ink on paper: {{convert|29.0|x|581.5|cm|abbr=on}}, {{convert|29.0|x|936.0|cm|abbr=on}}, {{convert|29.0|x|682.5|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo
| File:Inventory of Kanzeon-ji.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Draft of the petition of foundation of Zenrin-ji by Emperor Kameyama|亀山天皇宸翰禅林寺御起願文案|Kameyama-tennō shinkan zenrinji gokigan mon'an}}One bound registration book {{nihongo||南禅寺領諸国所々紛失御判物帖|}} is attached to the nomination.
| Document on the foundation of Nanzen-ji, formerly {{nihongo|Zenrin-ji|禅林寺}}
| Kamakura period, March 5, 1299
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Visit of the cloistered Emperor to Kumano|熊野御幸記|kumano gokōki}}{{cite web
| title = Collection
| publisher = Mitsui Memorial Museum
| access-date = 2010-09-11
| url = http://www.mitsui-museum.jp/collection/collection.html
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2010-05-10
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100510212857/http://www.mitsui-museum.jp/collection/collection.html
| url-status = live
}}
| Diary in classical Chinese of a visit with Emperor Go-Toba and Minamoto no Michichika to {{nihongo|Kumano|熊野}}
| Kamakura period, October, 1201
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|30.1|x|678.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Mitsui Memorial Museum, Tokyo
| File:Visit of the cloistered Emperor to Kumano.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Diary of ex-Emperor Go-Uda|後宇多院宸記|Go-Uda-in shinki}}{{cite web
|title = The Function of Medieval Temples and Monasteries
|work = REKIHAKU Special Exhibition 2002
|publisher = National Museum of Japanese History
|access-date = 2011-06-06
|url = http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/exhibitions/project/o021001.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054144/http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/exhibitions/project/o021001.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-21
}}
| Chronicle in the {{nihongo||具注暦|guchūreki}} almanac in the emperor's own handwriting
| Kamakura period, 1319
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| National Museum of Japanese History, Sakura, Chiba
|-
| {{nihongo|Will with Handprints by Emperor Go-Uda|後宇多天皇宸翰御手印遺告|Go-Uda-tennō shinkan gotein yuigō}}{{cite web
|title = Treasures of Daikaku-ji Temple
|publisher = Kyoto National Museum
|access-date = 2009-05-08
|year = 2009
|url = http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tenji/chinretsu/daimei/daimei.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110612033117/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tenji/chinretsu/daimei/daimei.html
|archive-date = 2011-06-12
|title = Will with Handprints by Emperor Go-Uda
|publisher = Daikaku-ji
|access-date = 2009-05-08
|year = 2008
|url = http://www.daikakuji.or.jp/kedai/meiho_e_04.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100412025658/http://www.daikakuji.or.jp/kedai/meiho_e_04.html
|archive-date = 2010-04-12
}}
| Testament of Emperor Go-Uda with handprints
| Kamakura period, 1308
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|54.5|x|788.8|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Daikaku-ji, Kyoto
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter accompanying a prayer for the prosperity of Tō-ji temple, by Emperor Go-Uda|後宇多天皇宸翰東寺興隆条々事書御添状|Go-Uda-tennō shinkan Tō-ji kōryūjōjō kotogaki onsōjō}}{{cite web
| title = Thematic Exhibition – Imperial Calligraphy: Stylistic Developments in Emperors' Writings
| publisher = Tokyo National Museum
| access-date = 2009-05-08
| year = 2009
| url = http://www.tnm.go.jp/en/servlet/Con?pageId=D01&processId=02&event_id=4409&event_idx=1&initdate=2007/05/01&dispdate=2007/07/20
}}
| Imperial letter praying for the growth of Tō-ji temple, written in the emperor's own handwriting one year after entering the priesthood
| Kamakura period, February 12, 1308
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter of the Emperor Go-Uda, Promotion of the precepts of the Daigo school|後宇多天皇宸翰当流紹隆教誡|Go-Uda-tennō shinkan tōryū shōryū kyōkai}}{{cite book
|author=Kyoto National Museum
|title=弘法大師と密教美術
|publisher=Asahi Shimbun
|script-title=ja:弘法大師と密教美術: 入定1150年
|trans-title=Kobō Daishi and the Art of Esoteric Buddhism: 1150th anniversary of entering nirvana
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lv7TAAAAMAAJ
|access-date=2010-09-05
| language=ja
|year=1983
|page=259
|author-link=Kyoto National Museum
}}
| Three letters in the emperor's own handwriting addressed to a monk of {{nihongo|Hōon-in|報恩院}}, Daigo-ji, with the intention of unifying the Ono (小野) and Hirosawa (広沢) branches of the Shingon sect
| Kamakura period, 1309
| {{sort|rolled scroll|three letters mounted on a rolled scroll, {{convert|32.8|x|347.2|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Go-Uda Daigoji Letter.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Model letter by Emperor Go-Saga|後嵯峨天皇宸翰御消息|Go-Saga-tennō shinkan go-shōsoku}}{{cite web
|title = Calligraphy by Emperors: The Sentiment that Went into Imperial Letters
|publisher = Kyoto National Museum
|access-date = 2009-05-08
|year = 2009
|url = http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tenji/chinretsu/sinkan/sinkan.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110612033243/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tenji/chinretsu/sinkan/sinkan.html
|archive-date = 2011-06-12
}}
| Only extant letter of Emperor Go-Saga, addressed to the cloistered Prince Doshin of Ninna-ji
| Kamakura period, April 15, 1246
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Testament by Emperor Go-Daigo|後醍醐天皇宸翰御置文|Go-Daigo-tennō shinkan go-okibumi}}
| Will in the emperor's own handwriting
| Kamakura period, August 24, 1333
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll}}
| Daitoku-ji, Kyoto
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Tenchō injin|後醍醐天皇宸翰天長印信|Go-Daigo-tennō shinkan tenchō injin}}{{cite book
|author=Kyoto National Museum
|author2=Yomiuri Shimbun
|title= Koku hō, Kyōtō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan
|year=1969
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SwDlAAAAMAAJ
|access-date=2009-12-31
| language=ja
|oclc=83735789
|author-link2=Yomiuri Shimbun
|author-link=Kyoto National Museum
}}
| transcription by Emperor Go-Daigo
design and postscript by {{ill|Monkan|ja|文観}}
| Certificate of highest confirmation in Esoteric Buddhism given by the priest Kūkai to his disciple Shinga
| Nanboku-chō period, July 23, 1339 (June 16, Engen 4)
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on decorated paper, {{convert|32.0|x|122.2|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Go-Daigo Tennō Shinkan Tenchō Injin (Rōsen).jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Will and testament of Emperor Go-Toba with handprint|後鳥羽天皇宸翰御手印置文|Go-Toba-tennō shinkan gotein okibumi}}
| Will and testament in the emperor's own handwriting with handprints
| Kamakura period, February 9, 1239
| {{sort|scroll|one hanging scroll}}
| Minase Shrine, Shimamoto, Osaka
|-
| {{nihongo|Moromichi Diary|後二条殿記|Go-Nijō donoki}}
| Fujiwara no Moromichi (also known as Go-Nijō Dono) and Fujiwara no Yorinaga (transcription)
| Diary of Fujiwara no Moromichi consisting of one volume in his own handwriting covering parts of the year 1093 and 29 volumes transcribed by Fujiwara no Yorinaga
| late Heian period, 1083–1099
| {{sort|rolled scroll|30 rolled scrolls}}
| Yōmei Bunko, Kyoto
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Diary of Fujiwara no Michinaga|御堂関白記|Midō Kanpakuki}}Attached to the nomination are an excerpt of the history of an enshrinement hall (御堂御記抄) consisting of five rolled scrolls and one hanging scroll; and an inventory of an enshrinement hall (御堂御暦記目録) consisting of one single-sheet letter.{{cite web
|title = Special Exhibition – The Legacy of Fujiwara no Michinaga: Courtly Splendor and Pure Land Faith
|publisher = Kyoto National Museum
|access-date = 2009-05-08
|url = http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/070424/tokubetsu.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071230034709/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/070424/tokubetsu.html
|archive-date = 2007-12-30
}}
| Diary of Fujiwara no Michinaga consisting of 14 volumes in his own handwriting and 12 other volumes. It covers the years from 998 to 1021 with interruptions.
| Heian period, 998–1021
| {{sort|rolled scroll|26 rolled scrolls, ink on paper}}
| Yōmei Bunko, Kyoto
|-
| {{nihongo|History and Legends of the Kōryū-ji temple|広隆寺縁起資財帳|kōryū-ji engi shizai chō}}{{Harvnb|Sakamoto|1991|p=30}}
| {{center|—}}
| Catalogue of treasures and historical record of Kōryū-ji
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo||広隆寺資財交替実録帳|Kōryū-ji shizai kōtai jitsuroku chō}}
| {{center|—}}
| Authentic register of property changes of Kōryū-ji temple
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Catalogue of imported items|弘法大師請来目録|Kōbō Daishi shōrai mokuroku}}{{cite book
| publisher = BRILL
| isbn = 90-04-10195-0
| page = 285
| last = Peter Francis Kornicki
| author-link = Peter Kornicki
| title = The book in Japan: a cultural history from the beginnings to the nineteenth century
| access-date = 2009-05-08
| year = 1998
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=tomscJO8ny8C&q=kukai+catalogue+shorai+mokuroku+saicho&pg=PA285
}}Attached to the nomination is a donation letter from June 21, 1341.
| Saichō
| Catalogue of articles brought back to Japan by Kūkai from his trip to Tang dynasty China
| Heian period, 9th century
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|27.0|x|885.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Catalogue_of_Imported_Items.png
|-
| {{nihongo|Three letters by Kūkai|弘法大師筆尺牘三通|Kōbō Daishi hitsu sekitoku santsū}} ({{nihongo||風信帖|Fūshinjō}}){{cite web
|script-title = ja:弘法大師筆尺牘三通
|trans-title=Three letters by Kūkai
|publisher = Kochi Shimbun
|access-date = 2009-11-04
|url = http://www.kochinews.co.jp/rensai99/kukain02.htm
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080616061149/http://www.kochinews.co.jp/rensai99/kukain02.htm
|archive-date = 2008-06-16
}}Attached to the nomination are a donation and an escort letter.
| Kūkai
| Three letters from Kūkai to Saichō mounted as a scroll
| Heian period, 9th century
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|28.8|x|157.9|cm|abbr=on}}}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Model letter by Emperor Takakura|高倉天皇宸翰御消息|Takakura tennō shinkan goshōsoku}}Attached to the nomination is one hanging scroll of a letter by {{nihongo|Shukaku Hosshinnō|守覚法親王}}
| Only extant letter of Emperor Takakura
| Heian period, November 13, 1178
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll}}
| File:Letter by Emperor Takakura.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Ordination certificate of monk Kōjō|嵯峨天皇宸翰光定戒牒|Saga tennō shinkan kōjō kaichō}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:嵯峨天皇宸翰光定戒牒
|trans-title=Ordination certificate of monk Kōjō
|publisher = Otsu City Museum of History
|access-date = 2010-09-05
|url = http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_335.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722124439/http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_335.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}
| Document in the emperor's own handwriting to the priest {{nihongo|Kōjō|光定}}, after his vow to follow the precepts, certifying that Kōjō had undergone the rite known as Bosatsu-kai
| Heian period, April 14, 823
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|37.0|x|148.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Enryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga
|-
| {{nihongo|Imperial letters of three rulers|三朝宸翰|sanchō shinkan}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:前田家の名宝
|trans-title=Treasures of the Maeda family
|publisher = Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
|access-date = 2010-09-05
|url = http://www.ishibi.pref.ishikawa.jp/tayori/2007/tayori_08/tayori_syosai08_1.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722110936/http://www.ishibi.pref.ishikawa.jp/tayori/2007/tayori_08/tayori_syosai08_1.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}
| Emperor Hanazono, Emperor Fushimi, Emperor Go-Daigo
| {{center|—}}
| Kamakura period, 13th and 14th century
| {{sort|rolled scroll|two rolled scrolls; 1st scroll: twelve letters by Emperor Hanazono, 2nd scroll: ten letters by Emperor Go-Daigo and two letters by Emperor Fushimi}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Testament of the priest Jie|慈恵大師自筆遺告|jie daishi jihitsu yuigō}}
| Ryōgen (Jie Daishi)
| Written by the 61-year-old priest Ryōgen, entrusting everything to his pupil {{nihongo|Jinzen|尋禅}}. Contains detailed instructions on the funeral service
| Heian period, May, 972
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| {{nihongo|Rozan-ji|廬山寺}}, Kyoto
|-
| {{nihongo|Fragment of a census from 908 in Kuga, Kuga District, Suō Province|周防国玖珂郡玖珂郷延喜八年戸籍残巻|suō-no-kuni kugagun kugagō engi hachinen kosekizankan}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:周防国玖珂郡玖珂郷延喜八年戸籍残巻
|trans-title=Fragment of a census from 908 in Kuga, Kuga District, Suō Province
|publisher = Otsu City Museum of History
|access-date = 2009-05-08
|url = http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_361.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722124428/http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_361.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Family register of Kuga, Yamaguchi from 908
| Heian period, 908
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| Ishiyama-dera, Ōtsu, Shiga
|-
| {{nihongo|Uesugi Family documents|上杉家文書|uesugi-ke monjo}}Attached to the nomination are 325 bound {{nihongo|double-leaved|袋とじ|fukuro-toji}} books or fourteen copies of a chronological record of successive generations and three covered containers.{{cite web
|script-title = ja:上杉家文書
|trans-title=Uesugi Family documents
|publisher = Yamagata
|access-date = 2010-01-07
|url = http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/kyoiku/700015/bunkazai/bunkazainews/publicfolder200605297731499986/kokuhou/uesugikemonjo.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927152707/http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/kyoiku/700015/bunkazai/bunkazainews/publicfolder200605297731499986/kokuhou/uesugikemonjo.html
|archive-date = 2011-09-27
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Collection of documents handed down in the Uesugi clan
| Kamakura period – Edo period
| {{sort|various|bundle/batch of 2018 letters, 4 bound books and 26 bound {{nihongo|double-leaved|袋とじ|fukuro-toji}} books}}
| Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum, Yonezawa, Yamagata
| File:Ashikaga Yoshimitsu message.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|True record of articles in the possession of Ninna-ji|仁和寺御室御物実録|Ninna-ji omuro gyobutsu jitsuroku}}{{cite book
| title = Japanese Buddhist prints
| last = Ishida
| first = Mosaku
| editor-last = Terry
| editor-first = Charles S.
| year = 1964
| publisher = H. N. Abrams
| access-date = 2010-01-07
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gkxQAAAAMAAJ
| page = 13
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Catalogue of items offered to the temple treasures by Emperor Uda about ten days before his death
| Heian period, January 10, 950
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo||水左記|Suisaki}}
| Diary of Sadaijin Minamoto no Toshifusa in his own handwriting
| Heian period, 1077 and 1081
| {{sort|rolled scroll|two rolled scrolls: one for 1077, one for 1081}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Imperial rescript of Emperor Shōmu|聖武天皇勅書|Shōmu Tennō chokusho}}{{cite news
| newspaper = Yomiuri Shimbun
| title = National Treasures of Japan – Exhibition catalogure, April 10 – May 27, 1990, Tokyo National Museum
| year = 1990
| language=ja
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Nara period, May 20, 749
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|29.2|x|95.8|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| {{nihongo|Heiden-ji|平田寺}}, Makinohara, Shizuoka
| File:Emperor Shomu rescript.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Origin and history of Ghost Festival at Seigan-ji|誓願寺盂蘭盆縁起|Seigan-ji urabon engi}}{{cite web
| script-title = ja:博物館情報: 誓願寺盂蘭盆縁起
| trans-title = Museum Information: Origin and history of Bon Festival at Seigan-ji
| publisher = Kyushu National Museum
| access-date = 2009-05-11
| url = http://www.kyuhaku.jp/news/news_051202.html
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2011-07-19
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719233946/http://www.kyuhaku.jp/news/news_051202.html
| url-status = live
| Eisai
| Document on the origin and meaning of the Ghost Festival as transmitted from Song dynasty China
| Heian period, July 15, 1178
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}, ink on colored paper, {{convert|35.3|x|154|cm|abbr=on}}
| {{nihongo|Seigan-ji|誓願寺}}, Fukuoka, Fukuoka
| File:Seigan-ji urabon engi.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter soliciting donations for the restoration of Sennyū-ji temple|泉涌寺勧縁疏|Sennyū-ji kanenso}}
| Shunjō
| Document on the origins of Sennyū-ji temple
| Kamakura period, October 1221
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|40.6|x|296.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Sennyu-ji restoration.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Surviving passages of memorial presented to Emperor Saga|狸毛筆奉献表|Rimōhitsu hōkenhyō}}{{cite web
| script-title = ja:狸毛筆奉献表
| trans-title = Surviving passages of memorial presented to Emperor Saga
| work = lincs
| access-date = 2009-05-11
| url = http://lincs.co.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=234&categoryID=2
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2011-07-16
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716134925/http://lincs.co.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=234&categoryID=2
| url-status = dead
|last=Yamasaki
|first=Shigehisa
|title= Chronological table of Japanese art
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OHDrAAAAMAAJ
|access-date=2010-01-07
|publisher = Geishinsha
|year=1981
|page=454
}}
| Kūkai
| Document accompanying the present of four tanuki hair writing brushes to Emperor Saga. According to this document, the brushes were meant to be used for regular, semi-cursive, cursive script and for the hand-copying of sutras respectively.
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, {{convert|27.6|x|65.8|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Rimohitsu hokenhyo2.JPG
|-
| {{nihongo|Writings related to the priest Enchin|智証大師関係文書典籍|chishō daishi kankei monjo tenseki}}{{cite web
| title = Documents and books
| publisher = Mii-dera
| access-date = 2010-01-08
| url = http://www.shiga-miidera.or.jp/treasure/document/index.htm
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2010-01-24
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100124025345/http://www.shiga-miidera.or.jp/treasure/document/index.htm
| url-status = live
}}
|script-title = ja:智証大師関係文書典籍
|trans-title=Writings related to the priest Enchin
|publisher = Otsu City Museum of History
|access-date = 2010-01-08
|url = http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_351.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722124432/http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_351.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}
| {{center|—}}
- Six documents related to his secular surname (family tree) and priestly rank
- Five documents related to his trip to China (peaceful prayer and correspondence)
- Five catalogues of sacred books and sutras obteined in China
- Ten documents related to teaching Buddhism
- Eight sacred books collected in China
- Three documents in his own handwriting
- Nine dated and signed messages
| {{sort|various|various}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Essential Teachings for Tendai Lotus Sect Priests|天台法華宗年分縁起|tendai hokkeshū nenbun engi}}{{cite web
| script-title=ja:特別展 最澄と天台の国宝
|trans-title=Special exhibition: Saichō and Treasures of Tendai
| publisher = Tokyo National Museum
| access-date = 2010-09-03
| url = http://www.tnm.go.jp/jp/servlet/Con?pageId=B01&processId=01&event_id=2773
| language=ja
}}
| {{sort|Saichō|attributed to Saichō}}
| Letter addressed to the Imperial Court wishing for an increase of the number of people allowed to enter the priesthood from 10 to 12 per year due to the establishment of Tendai Buddhism
| Heian period, 9th century
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|28.9|x|340.3|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Enryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga
| File:Tendai hokkeshū nenbun engi.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Catalogue of Imported Items|伝教大師将来目録|Dengyō-daishi shōrai mokuroku}}
| Saichō
| Catalogue of sacred books brought back by Saichō from Tang dynasty China
| Heian period, May 13, 805
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| Enryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga
| File:Catalogue of imported items.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Certificate of priesthood for Saichō and related papers to and from the controller of priesthood|伝教大師度縁案並僧綱牒|Dengyō-daishi Doen-an narabini Sōgō Chō}}{{cite book
|author=Asahi Shimbun
|title= Hieizan to Tendai no bijutsu: Hieizan kaisō 1200-nen kinen
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6YjrAAAAMAAJ&q=official+papers
|access-date=2010-01-08
| publisher = Asahi Shimbun
|year=1986
| language=ja
|page=413
|author-link= Asahi Shimbun
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Three letters on Saichō entering priesthood and his vow to follow the precepts
| Nara period, 780–783
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll}}
| {{nihongo|Raigō-in|来迎院}}, Kyoto (Sakyō-ku)
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Passing permits for Dengyō-daishi|伝教大師入唐牒|Dengyō-daishi nittōchō}}
| {{center|—}}
| Tang dynasty passing permits for Saichō: from Ningbo in 804 and from Taizhou in 805
| Tang dynasty, September 12, 804 and February 805
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, {{convert|39.7|x|134.2|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Enryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga
| File:Dengyō-daishi nittōchō.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter penned by the Saichō monk|伝教大師筆尺牘|Dengyō daishi hitsu sekitoku}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:伝教大師筆尺牘 （久隔帖）
|trans-title=Letter penned by Saichō (Kykaku-jō)
|publisher = Nara National Museum
|access-date = 2009-05-11
|url = http://sips03.narahaku.go.jp/meihin/syoseki/098.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20110719233133/http://sips03.narahaku.go.jp/meihin/syoseki/098.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-19
| title = Letter penned by the Saicho monk
| work = emuseum
| publisher = Tokyo National Museum
| access-date = 2010-09-11
| year = 2004
| url = http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100243?x=&y=&s=&d_lang=en&s_lang=ja&word=&class=2&title=&c_e=®ion=&era=&cptype=&owner=&pos=9&num=2&mode=detail¢ury=
| language = ja, zh, ko, en, fr
| archive-date = 2011-09-27
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927130738/http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100243?x=&y=&s=&d_lang=en&s_lang=ja&word=&class=2&title=&c_e=®ion=&era=&cptype=&owner=&pos=9&num=2&mode=detail¢ury=
| url-status = dead
}}
| Saichō
| Letter known as {{nihongo|Kykaku-jō|久隔帖}} from Saichō to {{nihongo|Taihan|泰範}}, his favourite student at {{nihongo|Takaosan-ji|高雄山寺}} (now Jingo-ji)
| Heian period, November 25, 813
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll, {{convert|29.2|x|55.2|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| File:Dengyo-daishi sekitoku.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter written in kana syllabary|伝藤原行成筆仮名消息|denfujiwara no Yukinari hitsu kana shōsoku}}
| attributed to Fujiwara no Yukinari
| Letter valued for its continuous unbroken calligraphy
| Heian period, 10th–11th century
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll, {{convert|28.2|x|420.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| {{nihongo|Kyūkyodō|鳩居堂}}, Kyoto
| 150px
|-
| {{nihongo|Documents and treasures of Tō-ji|東寺百合文書|Tō-ji hyakugō monjo}}{{cite web
| script-title = ja:東寺百合文書
| trans-title = Documents and treasures of Tō-ji
| publisher = Yokohama National University
| access-date = 2010-01-08
| url = http://www.lib.ynu.ac.jp/KANPOU/19-1/touji.html
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2011-07-22
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722080721/http://www.lib.ynu.ac.jp/KANPOU/19-1/touji.html
| url-status = live
}}Attached to the nomination are 94 document boxes donated by Maeda Tsunanori in 1685.
| {{center|—}}
| Huge collection of documents covering a lot of ground starting from Shōen or manor related documents and including documents on the economic history and the history of Buddhism
| 8th century Nara period – late Edo period
| {{sort|various|bundle/batch of 24,067 items including 3,863 rolled scrolls, 1172 bound {{nihongo|double-leaved|袋とじ|fukuro-toji}} books, six bound books, 67 hanging scrolls, 13,695 single-sheet letters}}
| {{nihongo|Kyoto Prefectural Library and Archives|京都府立総合資料館}}, Kyoto
|-
| {{nihongo|Documents of Tōdai-ji|東大寺文書|Tōdai-ji monjo}}
| {{center|—}}
| Collection of documents on the history of Tōdai-ji temple
| Heian period – Muromachi period
| {{sort|various|100 rolled scrolls (with 979 mounted letters), 8,516 single-sheet letters}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter by Fujiwara no Sari|藤原佐理筆書状|Fujiwara no Sari hitsu shojō}} or {{nihongo||離洛帖|Riraku-jō}}{{cite web
|title = Letter by Fujiwara no Sari
|publisher = Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art
|work = Collection
|access-date = 2009-05-07
|language=ja
|url = http://www.ebara.co.jp/csr/hatakeyama/collection/co01.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090227080611/http://www.ebara.co.jp/csr/hatakeyama/collection/co01.html
|archive-date = 2009-02-27
}}Attached to the nomination is one hanging scroll by Konoe Iehiro.
| Fujiwara no Sukemasa/Sari
| Written from Shimonoseki on the way to Kyushu where Sasaki had been appointed {{nihongo|Dazai no Daini|太宰大弐}} (Assistant secretary of Dazaifu Province). Addressed to {{nihongo|Fujiwara no Sanenobu|藤原誠信}}.
| Heian period, 991
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|64.6|x|31.7|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art, Tokyo
| File:Fujiwara no Sukemasa - Rirakujō.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Draft Letters by Fujiwara no Tadamichi|藤原忠通筆書状案|Fujiwara no Tadamichi hitsushojōan}}{{cite web
| url = http://www.emuseum.jp/cgi/pkihon.cgi?SyoID=5&ID=w030&SubID=s000
| title = Draft Letters
| work = emuseum
| publisher = Tokyo National Museum
| year = 2004
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070816000422/http://www.emuseum.jp/cgi/pkihon.cgi?SyoID=5&ID=w030&SubID=s000
| archive-date = 2007-08-16
| language=ja, zh, ko, en, fr
}}
| Collection of 25 letters composed as a style manual for letter writing
| Heian period, 12th century
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll, ink on paper, {{convert|31.2|x|980.3|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto
| File:Draft Letters by Fujiwara no Tadamichi 1.jpg
File:Draft Letters by Fujiwara no Tadamichi 2.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Stone in Nasu County|那須国造碑|nasu kokuzō hi}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:那須国造碑
|trans-title=Stone in Nasu County
|access-date = 2010-01-08
|language=ja
|publisher = Ōtawara city
|url = http://www.ohtawara.info/spot/ksaishi.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110613140112/http://www.ohtawara.info/spot/ksaishi.html
|archive-date = 2011-06-13
| script-title = ja:那須国造碑
| trans-title = Stone in Nasu County
| access-date = 2010-01-08
| language = ja
| publisher = Tochigi Prefecture
| url = http://www.tochigi-edu.ed.jp/center/bunkazai/bunkazai/list/12.htm
| archive-date = 2011-07-22
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722103442/http://www.tochigi-edu.ed.jp/center/bunkazai/bunkazai/list/12.htm
| url-status = live
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Granite stone monument in remembrance of Atai Ide, governor of Nasu, consisting of a standing main stone with a hat stone. The main stone bears a calligraphic inscription (8 lines of 19 characters) which is influenced by the Northern Wei robust style.
| Asuka period, end of the 7th century
| {{sort|other|inscription on stone, height without hat stone: {{convert|120|cm|abbr=on}}, width: {{convert|43.5|–|48|cm|abbr=on}}, hat stone 51 cm x 51 cm x 30 cm (20.1 in x 20.1 in x 11.8 in)}}
| {{nihongo|Kasaishi Shrine|笠石神社|kasaishi jinja}}, Ōtawara, Tochigi
| File:Stone in Nasu county inscription.JPG
|-
| {{nihongo|Ennin's Diary: The Record of a Pilgrimage to China in Search of the Law|入唐求法巡礼行記|nittō guhō junreikōki}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:代表作品のご紹介
|trans-title=Introduction to Masterpieces
|access-date = 2010-01-08
|language=ja
|publisher = Tochigi Prefectural Museum
|url = http://www.muse.pref.tochigi.jp/ennin/tenji.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722125311/http://www.muse.pref.tochigi.jp/ennin/tenji.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}
| {{nihongo|Kanetane|兼胤}} (transcription of the original by Ennin)
| Transcription of the 9th century original (lost) by Kanetane, a monk at {{nihongo|Chōraku-ji|長楽寺}}, Kyoto
| Kamakura period, October 26, 1291 (post scriptum)
| {{sort|bound book|four bound books}}
| private ({{nihongo|Andō Sekisan Gōshi Company|安藤積産合資会社|andō sekisan gōshi gaisha}}), Motosu, Gifu
|-
| {{nihongo|Certificate of advanced learning in Buddhism|附法状|Fuhōjō}}{{cite book
|last=Yamasaki
|first=Shigehisa
|title= Chronological table of Japanese art
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OHDrAAAAMAAJ
|access-date=2010-01-07
|publisher = Geishinsha
|year=1981
|page=343
}}
| Shunjō
| Written by the priest Shunjō in the last month before his death for his student {{nihongo||心海|Shinkai}}
| Kamakura period, March 22, 1227
| {{sort|hanging scroll|one hanging scroll}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|Priest Mongaku's forty-five article rules and regulations|文覚四十五箇条起請文|mongaku yonjūgokajō kishōmon〉}}{{cite web
|title = Special Exhibition – Bridging Tradition: The 110th Anniversary Exhibition of the Kyoto National Museum
|publisher = Kyoto National Museum
|access-date = 2009-05-12
|year = 2009
|url = http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/060715/shoukai/index.htm
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110612014522/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/tokubetsu/060715/shoukai/index.htm
|archive-date = 2011-06-12
| volume = 23
| issue = 3–4
| last = Kuroda, Toshio
|translator=Jacqueline I. Stone
| title = The Imperial Law and the Buddhist Law
| journal = Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
| year = 1996
| script-title=ja:藤原忠親
|title = Fujiwara no Tadachika
| publisher = kotobank
| access-date = 2009-12-09
| url = http://kotobank.jp/word/藤原忠親
| language=ja
}}
| Document requesting the restoration of Jingo-ji temple from Emperor Go-Shirakawa
| early Kamakura period, before 1192
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll with handprints}}
|-
| {{nihongo||宝簡集|hōkanshū}}, {{nihongo||続宝簡集|zoku hōkanshū}}, {{nihongo||又続宝簡集|yūzoku hōkanshū}}
| {{center|—}}
| Documents on the history, territory, function, etc. of Mount Kōya including letters by Minamoto no Yoritomo, Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Saigyō Hōshi
| Heian period – Azuchi-Momoyama period
| {{sort|various|bundle/batch of 54/77/167 rolled scrolls and 0/6/9 bound {{nihongo|double-leaved|袋とじ|fukuro-toji}} books}}
| Reihōkan (owned by Kongōbu-ji), Kōya, Wakayama
|-
| {{nihongo|Record of Imperial Bequest to the Hōryū-ji temple|法隆寺献物帳|hōryūji kenmotsu chō}}{{cite web
| title = Record of Imperial Bequest to the Hōryū-ji
| work = emuseum
| publisher = Tokyo National Museum
| access-date = 2010-09-11
| year = 2004
| url = http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100206?x=&y=&s=&d_lang=en&s_lang=ja&word=%E6%B3%95%E9%9A%86%E5%AF%BA%E7%8C%AE%E7%89%A9%E5%B8%B3&class=&title=&c_e=®ion=&era=&cptype=&owner=&pos=1&num=1&mode=simple¢ury=
| language = ja, zh, ko, en, fr
| archive-date = 2011-09-27
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927130809/http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100206?x=&y=&s=&d_lang=en&s_lang=ja&word=%E6%B3%95%E9%9A%86%E5%AF%BA%E7%8C%AE%E7%89%A9%E5%B8%B3&class=&title=&c_e=®ion=&era=&cptype=&owner=&pos=1&num=1&mode=simple¢ury=
| url-status = dead
}}
| Fujiwara no Nakamaro, Fujiwara no Nagate, Koma Fukushin, Kamo Tsunotari and Kazuragi Henushi
| Record of the objects bequeathed to the Hōryū-ji temple by Empress Kōken on occasion of the death of Emperor Shōmu
| Nara period, July 8, 756
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, ink on paper {{convert|27.8|x|70.6|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Gallery of Hōryū-ji Treasures, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo
|-
| {{nihongo|The Record of the Clear Moon|明月記|meigetsuki}}{{cite web
| last = Shimosaka
| first = Mamoru
| author2 = Melissa M. Rinne
| title = Meigetsuki (The Record of the Clear Moon)
| publisher = Kyoto National Museum
| access-date = 2009-04-28
| url = http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/dictio/data/shoseki/sadaie.htm#02
| archive-date = 2014-05-15
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140515005634/http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/dictio/data/shoseki/sadaie.htm#02
| url-status = dead
| Comprehensive diary in classical Chinese, covering the life of the author from age 18 to his death.
| Kamakura period, ca. 1180–1241
| {{sort|various|58 rolled scrolls and one hanging scroll}}
| {{nihongo|Reizei-ke Shiguretei Bunko|冷泉家時雨亭文庫}}, Kyoto and private collection
| File:Record of the clear moon.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Letter of dismissal by Rigen Daishi|理源大師筆処分状|rigen daishi hitsu shobunshō}}{{cite book
|script-title=ja:日本の仏敎を築いた人びと: その肖像と書
|trans-title=People who built Japanese Buddhism: portraits and writings
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ni0EAAAAMAAJ
|access-date=2010-09-04
|language=ja
|publisher = Nara National Museum
|year=1981
|page=72
|title = 日本の仏敎を築いた人びと
}}
| {{nihongo|Rigen Daishi|理源大師}}
| Written by the priest and founder of Daigo-ji Rigen Daishi ({{nihongo|Shōbō|聖宝}})
| Heian period, June 2, 907
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, {{convert|31.8|x|45.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| {{center|—}}
|-
| {{nihongo|List of Ritual Implements of Esoteric Buddhism and other objects brought back by the Priest Saichō|羯磨金剛目録|katsuma kongō mokuroku}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:羯磨金剛目録
|trans-title=List of Ritual Implements of Esoteric Buddhism and other objects brought back by the Priest Saichō
|publisher = Ōtsu City Museum of History
|language=ja
|access-date = 2010-09-04
|url = http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_331.html
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110722124435/http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp/bunka/data/bz_331.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-22
}}
| Saichō
| An inventory of 66 items that Saichō brought back from China and stored at Hiezan in 805
| Heian period, July 17, 811
| {{sort|rolled scroll|one rolled scroll, {{convert|27.9|x|37.0|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Enryaku-ji, Ōtsu, Shiga
| File:List of Implements Saicho.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Epistle to Zhongfeng Mingben|与中峰明本尺牘|yochūhō myōhon sekitoku}}{{cite web
|script-title = ja:趙子昂書 (与中峰明本尺牘)
|trans-title=Zhao Mengfu (Epistle to Zhongfeng Mingben)
|publisher = Seikadō Bunko Art Museum
|access-date = 2011-05-08
|url = http://www.seikado.or.jp/040104.html
|language=ja
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726071152/http://www.seikado.or.jp/040104.html
|archive-date = 2011-07-26
{{cite web
| title = Epistle to Zhongfeng Mingben
| work = Image Database
| publisher = University of California
| access-date = 2009-05-01
| url = http://images.ucdavis.edu/display/work.php?id=4163
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110818100759/http://images.ucdavis.edu/display/work.php?id=4163
| archive-date = 2011-08-18
| url-status = dead
}}
| Letters to the priest Zhongfeng Mingben (Chung Feng Ming Pen) in the style of Wang Xizhi expressing Zhao Mengfu's deep love and respect to Zhongfeng
| Yuan dynasty, 14th century
| {{sort|bound book|one bound book with six letters, ink on paper, {{convert|35.1|x|22.1|cm|abbr=on}},...}}
| Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo
| File:Epistle to Zhongfeng Mingben.jpg
|-
| {{nihongo|Map of rice fields in Naruto, Imizu District, Etchū Province|越中国射水郡鳴戸村墾田図|Etchū no kuni imizu-gun naruto-mura konden-zu}}{{cite web
| script-title = ja:越 中国射水郡鳴戸村墾田図
| trans-title = Map of rice fields in Naruto village, Imizu District, Etchū Province
| publisher = Nara National Museum
| access-date = 2010-07-02
| url = http://www.narahaku.go.jp/collection/?action=detail&c=1420&s=0&meihin=1
| language = ja
| archive-date = 2011-07-19
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719233147/http://www.narahaku.go.jp/collection/?action=detail&c=1420&s=0&meihin=1
| url-status = live
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Map of rice fields in Naruto (today central Takaoka), a former manor of Tōdai-ji. The map had been in the possession of Tōdai-ji.
| Nara period, 759
| {{sort|other|unbound, ink and light color on linen cloth, {{convert|79.8|x|140.5|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| Nara National Museum, Nara, Nara
|-
| {{nihongo|Mokkan excavated at the Heijō Palace ruins|平城宮跡出土木簡|Heijōkyū seki shutsudo mokkan}}{{Cite web
|script-title = ja:文化審議会答申 国宝・重要文化財（美術工芸品）の指定について
|trans-title = Council of Cultural Affairs: Designation of National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties in the Arts and Crafts category
|publisher = Agency for Cultural Affairs
|date = 2017-03-10
|access-date = 2017-11-13
|url = http://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2017/08/18/2017031002.pdf
|language = ja
|archive-date = 2017-11-14
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093339/http://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2017/08/18/2017031002.pdf
|url-status = dead
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Collection of 3184 wooden tablets (mokkan) discovered at the Heijō Palace site and used in government and economic affairs during the ritsuryō system.
| {{sort|other|inscribed tablets, ink on wood}}
| Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Nara, Nara
| {{center|—}}
|-
|{{nihongo|Tagajō Stele|多賀城碑|tagajō-hi}}{{Cite web
|script-title = ja:文化審議会答申
|trans-title = Report from the culture commission
|publisher = Agency for Cultural Affairs
|date = 2024-03-15
|access-date = 2024-03-16
|url = https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/pdf/94018601_01.pdf
|language = ja
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240316025218/https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/pdf/94018601_01.pdf
|archive-date = 2024-03-16
|url-status = live
}}
| {{center|—}}
| Stone stele with an inscription commemorating repairs of Taga Castle in 762. It is one of four ancient stele and mentioned in Oku no hosomichi by Matsuo Bashō.
| Nara period, 762
| inscription on stone, total height of stone: {{convert|248|cm|abbr=on}} (above ground {{convert|196|cm|abbr=on}}), maximum width: {{convert|103|cm|abbr=on}}, maximum depth: {{convert|72|cm|abbr=on}}
| 150px
|}
See also
Notes
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book
|last1=Enders
|first1=Siegfried R. C. T.
|first2=Niels
|last2=Gutschow
|title=Hozon: Architectural and Urban Conservation in Japan
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zh88TftnTsYC
|edition=illustrated
|year=1998
|publisher=Edition Axel Menges
|isbn=3-930698-98-6
}}
- {{cite book
|last=Lu
|first=David John
|title= Japan: a documentary history
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xJxf1W74XSoC
|year=1997
|publisher=M. E. Sharpe
|edition=2, illustrated
|volume=1
|isbn=1-56324-906-5
|pages=21–22
}}
- {{cite book
|last=Sakamoto
|first=Tarō
|title= The six national histories of Japan
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7jDuhnI6r9UC
|year=1991
|publisher=UBC Press
|isbn=0-7748-0379-7
}}
- {{cite book
|last=Seeley
|first=Christopher
|title= A history of writing in Japan
|series=Brill's Japanese studies library
|volume=3
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCZ2ya6cg88C
|year=1991
|publisher=BRILL
|edition=illustrated
|isbn=90-04-09081-9
}}
{{refend}}
{{commons category|National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)|National Treasure ancient documents}}
{{Lists of National Treasures of Japan}}
{{Cultural Properties of Japan}}
{{featured list}}