9781422283547

In the Shadow of China

First Geography Books In 713 the Japanese government ordered the governor of each province to send in a detailed written report describing the land, animals, plants, products, place- names and legends of the area he was responsible for. The survey of land and resources was probably meant to help the government work out what taxes it could raise. The legends were written into the official history of the nation. Only five of the reports survive, more or less complete, although there were originally about 60. An Emperors’ Treasure House The shosoin was built in 761 at Nara to store treasures belonging to the emperors. Made of cypress wood, it contains about 10,000 objects, including weapons, paintings, games, medicines, masks, pottery and musical instruments. Some of the treasures were made as far away as Persia.

T his wooden sculpture in a temple at Nara shows a Buddhist saint meditating with his legs crossed. Buddhist monks shaved their heads as a sign of poverty and to show they had no interest in worldly matters.

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