Osaka Butsudan are Buddhist altars (butsudan) that have been made in various parts of the prefecture, including Osaka City, Sakai City and Yao City. Their origins go back to the Asuka period and are said to lie with artisans invited from Baekje (Kudara) when Prince Shotoku founded Shitennoji Temple. The full-scale formation of the production area is said to have followed the founding of Kita-Mido and Minami-Mido in the Edo period. The national traditional craft 'Osaka Butsudan' is a lacquered butsudan (gold-lacquered butsudan, or kin-butsudan): natural lacquer is applied to the wooden base, which is decorated with gold leaf, coloring and decorative metal fittings (kazari kanagu). Its greatest feature is takamaki-e (raised maki-e), a technique of building up lacquer to draw designs, which makes them look as if metal fittings had been nailed on. Because no metal fittings are used, damage to the wooden base from rust is said to be prevented. Processes such as woodworking, carving, lacquering, maki-e and gold-leaf application are each carried out by specialized craftspeople in a division of labor. In 1982 (Showa 57), it was designated a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. 'Osaka Karaki Meiboku Butsudan,' which use rosewood (shitan), ebony (kokutan) and other woods, and 'Osaka Nuri Butsudan' are designated as Osaka Prefecture-designated Traditional Crafts.
Origin
According to Osaka Prefecture, Osaka Butsudan are said to have begun in the Asuka period, when Buddhist sculptors and temple builders came from Baekje to Naniwazu (the port of Naniwa) along with the introduction of Buddhism. Dento Kogei Aoyama Square explains that the production area began when Prince Shotoku, upon founding Shitennoji Temple, invited artisans from Baekje and had them settle in Osaka. Records also remain stating that Buddhist ritual implements for Ishiyama Honganji and other items were made here in the late 16th century.
History
The full-scale formation of the production area is said to have followed the founding of Kita-Mido and Minami-Mido in the Edo period. According to a survey report by Osaka Prefecture, manufacturers were once concentrated around Horie in Osaka City and in Yao, and a cluster can still be seen in Yao today. It was designated a national traditional craft in 1982, and in 2007 (Heisei 19) it obtained the regional collective trademark 'Osaka Butsudan.' In recent years, changes in housing conditions have led to a preference for small, furniture-style butsudan, and the aging of the craftspeople responsible for each stage of the divided production process has become an issue.
Features
Under the standards for national traditional crafts, the wooden base must use woods such as Japanese cedar (sugi), pine (matsu) and Japanese cypress (hinoki), the lacquer must be natural lacquer, and the metal fittings must be copper or copper alloy. On the front of the upper tier inside, the takamaki-e technique is used to make it look as if tier fittings had been nailed on, which prevents damage to the wooden base from metal fittings. Another feature is that the pillars and carvings are covered with gold leaf and given elegant coloring. Styles are made differently for each Buddhist sect, and the decorative metal fittings on the doors also show differences by sect.
Techniques
Takamaki-e (raised maki-e)
A maki-e technique in which lacquer is built up to draw designs in relief. In Osaka Butsudan, it is applied to areas such as the front of the upper tier inside, making it look as if metal fittings had been nailed on. Not nailing on metal fittings is regarded as a way of preventing damage to the wooden base from rust so that the altar can be used for generations.
Division of labor
The work is divided into woodworking; making the shumidan (the platform on which the principal image is enshrined) and the kuden (miniature palace); carving; decorative metal fittings; lacquering and roiro polishing; maki-e; gold leaf; coloring; and assembly, each handled by specialized craftspeople. A survey report by Osaka Prefecture points out that some processes lack successors, making it difficult to complete the division of labor within the production area.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Woodworking and carving
Materials are selected from thoroughly dried timber to make the wooden body, roof, shumidan and front table. For the shumidan, finely split pieces are shaped with molding planes and carving knives and assembled. The carvings that decorate the butsudan are carved one by one by skilled carvers.
- 2
Lacquering and roiro polishing
Natural lacquer is applied in many coats to finish the surface. In roiro polishing, the surface is polished with charcoal and tsunoko (an abrasive made by burning deer antler and grinding it into powder) to bring out a deep luster.
- 3
Maki-e
Takamaki-e, the greatest feature of Osaka Butsudan, is applied, drawing designs in relief that look as if metal fittings had been nailed on.
- 4
Gold-leaf application and coloring
Gold leaf of the highest purity is carefully applied sheet by sheet with bamboo chopsticks. Carvings and other parts are given wood-base coloring or coloring over gold leaf.
- 5
Decorative metal fittings and assembly
Copper and brass are worked and engraved to make the decorative metal fittings. The components gathered from each process are assembled and, after a final inspection, the altar is complete.
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Artisans & Workshops
株式会社 銭辰堂
A butsudan store headquartered in 高津, Chuo Ward, Osaka City, founded in Tenpo 3 (1832). It switched from being the money changer '銭屋' to a butsudan merchant and adopted '銭辰' as its trade name, combining it with the name of the second head, 辰之助. Centered on traditional butsudan (Osaka Butsudan), it also makes custom butsudan and Buddhist ritual implements for temples.
Official site →ながたけ仏壇店
A butsudan store in 佐堂町, Yao City, which states that it was founded more than 100 years ago. It manufactures and sells directly the Osaka Prefecture-designated Traditional Craft 'Osaka Karaki Meiboku Butsudan,' using striped ebony and true rosewood (hon-shitan). Each stage, including the wooden base, kuden, carving, lacquering and assembly, is handled by craftspeople in Japan.
Official site →How to Buy
- 銭辰堂 Head Office (高津, Chuo Ward, Osaka City)
- 3-1-3 高津, Chuo Ward, Osaka City. It exhibits and sells original art butsudan as well as gold-lacquered butsudan, karaki butsudan, modern butsudan and tabletop butsudan. It also accepts consultations on made-to-order butsudan and Buddhist ritual implements for temples.Where to buy →PR
- 佛壇のシメノ Main Store (Kishiwada City)
- A specialty store for butsudan and Buddhist ritual implements at 1-4-18 南町, Kishiwada City. It carries Osaka Butsudan made by certified traditional craftspeople (Dento Kogeishi) and offers a wide range, from gold-lacquered and karaki butsudan to modern butsudan. It also handles consultations on repairs. Open from 9:30 to 18:30.Where to buy →PR
FAQ
Q. What is the difference between a gold-lacquered butsudan (lacquered butsudan) and a karaki butsudan?
A. A gold-lacquered butsudan has lacquer applied to a wooden base of cedar, cypress or similar wood and is decorated with gold leaf, coloring and metal fittings; the national traditional craft 'Osaka Butsudan' is of this type. A karaki butsudan makes use of the grain of karaki (imported exotic hardwoods) such as rosewood and ebony. In Osaka, a production area for karaki sashimono (joinery cabinetry) emerged in the mid-Edo period, and karaki butsudan are said to have begun when sashimono artisans took them up in the early Meiji era.
Q. How do Osaka Butsudan differ from butsudan of other production areas?
A. The major difference is that takamaki-e is used to make it look as if metal fittings had been nailed on. Because no metal fittings are nailed on, damage to the wooden base from rust is said to be prevented. The Osaka Prefecture-designated Traditional Craft 'Osaka Nuri Butsudan' is positioned as a type that uses metal fittings like those of other production areas in place of this takamaki-e.