Cultural Properties for Future Generations 〜Outline of the Cultural Administration of Japan〜
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Cultural Properties for Future Generations 〜Outline of the Cultural Administration of Japan〜 Agency for Cultural Affairs, JAPAN Cultural Properties in Japan Monuments Types of Cultural Properties in Japan Monuments include shell mounds, tumuli, sites of fortified capitals, sites of forts or castles, and monumental houses, which are of high Our cultural properties have been created, developed, and preserved historical or scientific value. They also include gardens, bridges, throughout Japan’s long history. They have been passed down from one gorges, seashores, mountains, and other places of scenic beauty which generation to another, and they are now precious assets of the Japanese are of high artistic or scenic value. Moreover they include animals, people. plants, and geological and mineral formations which are of high Cultural properties include (i) structures such as shrines, temples, scientific value. and private houses, (ii) Buddhist statues, (iii) paintings, (iv) Cultural Landscapes calligraphy, (v) other skills called waza such as performing arts and Cultural landscapes are defined as those that have evolved with craft techniques, and (vi) traditional events and festivals. Natural the modes of life or livelihoods of people in Japan and with the landscapes that remain after many years of history, historic villages, geo-cultural features of the region. They are indispensable to the and townscapes are also regarded as our cultural properties. understanding of the lifestyles and/or livelihoods of the people of Under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties, these Japan. cultural properties are categorized as follows: Groups of Traditional Buildings Tangible Cultural Properties Groups of traditional buildings are defined as those that have high Tangible cultural properties consist of (a) those of high historical value and form historic scenery together with their surroundings. or artistic value such as structures, paintings, sculptures, crafts, calligraphic works, classical books, and ancient documents, and (b) Out of these cultural properties, the government designates, selects, those of high scientific value such as archeological artifacts and other and registers important items in respective categories as Important historical materials. Tangible cultural properties other than structures Cultural Properties, Important Intangible Cultural Properties, Important are collectively called “fine arts and crafts.” Tangible / Intangible Folk Cultural Properties, Historic Sites, Places Intangible Cultural Properties of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments. It gives high priority to the Intangible cultural properties are defined as those that have high protection of them. historical or artistic value such as drama, music, and craft techniques. Additionally, we designate particularly valuable important cultural They are embodied by individuals or groups who have mastered waza. properties as national treasures, and particularly important historic sites, places of scenic beauty, and natural monuments as special historic Folk Cultural Properties sites, special places of scenic beauty, and special natural monuments. Also protected are (a) underground cultural properties (Buried Folk cultural properties are defined as items indispensable for Cultural Properties) and (b) traditional skills and techniques that are understanding the transition in people’s daily lives, such as (i) necessary for the restoration and preservation of cultural properties manners and customs relating (a) to food, clothing, and housing, (b) (Conservation Techniques for Cultural Properties). to occupation, (c) to religious faith, and (d) to annual events, (ii) folk performing arts, (iii) folk skills, and (iv) clothes, implements, and houses used in connection with the foregoing. Number of Designated Cultural Properties (as of August 1, 2019) Designation National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties Designation Important Intangible Cultural Properties National Treasures Important Cultural Properties Individual Recognition Group Recognition Paintings 162 items 2,031 items No. of No. of holders No. of No. of holding s designations designations groups t f Sculptures 138 items 2,715 items a r Performing Arts 36 items 51 persons (51) 14 items 14 groups C Crafts 253 items 2,469 items d Calligraphies, Books 228 items 1,916 items Craft Techniques 39 items 59 persons (58) 16 items 16 groups n a Total 75 items 110 persons (109) 30 items 30 groups s Documents 62 items 774 items t r A Archeological artifacts 47 items 647 items Note: Some holders receive multiple recognitions; the number in brackets indicates e the actual number of individuals n Historical materials 3 items 220 items i F Subtotal 893 items 10,772 items Designation Important Tangible Designation Important Intangible (289 buildings) (5,033 buildings) Folk Cultural Properties Folk Cultural Properties Structures 226 items 2,497 items 221 items 312 items Total 1,119 items 13,269 items Selection Important Cultural Landscapes Note: The figures for Important Cultural Properties include National Treasures 64 items Designation Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monuments Selection Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings Special Historic Sites 62 items Historic Sites 1,823 items Special Places of Scenic Beauty 36 items Places of Scenic Beauty 415 items 118 items Special Natural Monuments 75 items Natural Monuments 1,030 items Selection Selected Conservation Techniques Total 173 (163) items Total 3,268 (3,154) items Holders Preservation Groups Note: The figures for Historic Sites, Places of Scenic Beauty, and Natural 46 items 55 holders 37 items 39 groups (34 groups) Monuments include Special Historic Sites, Special Places of Scenic Beauty, and Special Natural Monuments. Historic sites, places of scenic beauty, and Note: Some preservation groups receive multiple recognitions; the number in natural monuments may be repeatingly appointed, the contents within ( ) brackets indicates the actual number of groups are actually appointed. Registration Registered Monuments Registration Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures) 110 items 12,121 items Selection Intangible Cultural Properties that need Registration Registered Tangible Cultural Properties measures such as documentation (Works of Fine Arts and Crafts) 91 items 16 items Selection Intangible Folk Cultural Properties that Registration Registered Tangible Folk need measures such as documentation Cultural Properties 643 items 44 items 2 Schematic Diagram of Cultural Properties Items of Important items especially high value Designation Designation Important Cultural Properties National Treasures Tangible Cultural Registered Tangible Properties Registration Cultural Properties Structures Items especially in need of preservation and utilization Fine arts and crafts Paintings, Sculptures, Crafts, Calligraphies, Books, Documents, Archeological artifacts, Historical materials Important items Designation Intangible Cultural Properties Important Intangible Cultural Properties Drama, Music, Craft techniques, etc Intangible Cultural Properties that need Selection measures such as documentation Items especially in need of preservation and utilization Especially important Designation Folk Cultural Properties Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties Tangible Folk Cultural Properties Clothes, tools and implements, houses, and other objects used in connection with intangible folk Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties cultural property Intangible Folk Cultural Properties Manners and customs, folk performing arts, and Registered Tangible Folk Cultural Properties folk techniques that are related to food, clothing, Registration and housing, to occupations, religious faith, and annual events, etc Items especially in need of preservation and utilization Intangible Folk Cultural Properties that need Cultural Selection measures such as documentation Properties Items especially in need Important items Especially important Designation Designation Monuments Historic Sites Special Historic Sites Historical sites Shell mounds, Ancient tombs, Designation Places of Scenic Beauty Special Places of Sites of palaces, Sites of forts or Scenic Beauty castles, Monumental dwelling houses Designation Special Natural Places of Scenic Beauty Natural Monuments Gardens, Bridges, Gorges, Monuments Seashores, Mountains Animals, Plants, Geological and mineral formations Registered Monuments Registration Items especially in need of preservation and utilization Selected through application by prefectural Especially important or municipal governments Cultural Important Cultural Landscapes Landscapes Landscapes that have evolved in association with the modes of life or livelihoods of the people and the geo-cultural features of the region. Terraced rice fields, Mountain villages, Waterways Items of especially high value Decided by Protection of municipalities Preservation Districts Selection Important Preservation Cultural Properties Groups of for Groups of Districts for Groups of Logo Traditional Buildings This logo invokes the Traditional Buildings Traditional Buildings image of an structure, called a tokyo, which is Post towns, Castle towns, Farming or Fishing villages an important element of Japanese architecture. The three stacked elements symbolize the spirit of protection which Buried Cultural Properties eternally preserves our heritage of cultural Cultural Properties buried in the ground properties from the past, in the present, and