Giko Running water diagram

The Shosoin Repository is located within the grounds of the temple Todaiji in the city of Nara, and was built in the Nara period, eighth century AD. The term Shosoin refers to this particular repository today, but historically referred to the area where a group of storehouses was established. During the Nara and Heian periods, government offices and major Buddhism temples generally had their own storehouse – shoso for storing important materials. Over periods, the majority of them had disappeared, and only the one at the Todaiji has survived to date.

The majority of the Shosoin Treasures are considered to date from the eighth century, and have such unique historic attribution and provenance. These artifacts, ranging from the works of arts and crafts to the important documents, manuscripts and sutras, were produced domestically or imported from the continent across the sea.