[The Asahi Shimbun Company] Crowdfunding to Open to the Public the Murals of the Golden Hall of Horyuji Temple in Nara
The Asahi Shimbun Company Press Release: August 29, 2025 Crowdfunding to open the murals of the Golden Hall of Horyuji Temple in Nara to the public In return, you will receive an exclusive invitation to the mural storage room. There is also a course that includes a tour of the interior of the Golden Hall, a national treasure.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1941/9214-1941-8fddb6c0991baeebc4fff4ee772062d6-451×88.png
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1941/9214-1941-168586c137b4eff2eeca92757dd5459f-1803×1184.jpg The photo shows the limited release from the archives in 2024. ■The Horyuji Golden Hall Murals: The Origin of Cultural Property
Preservation The Horyuji Golden Hall Murals are Asuka period murals depicting Shaka Nyorai, Yakushi Nyorai, and other figures. However, on January 26, 1949, while the hall was undergoing dismantling and repairs known as the “Showa Great Repairs,” a fire broke out in the hall, damaging all 12 panels and destroying the original coloring. The damaged mural, along with the Flying Heavenly Bodhisattva painting, which was removed for dismantling and repair and escaped the damage, are stored in a storehouse within the temple grounds and are usually not open to the public. This fire caused a great shock both
domestically and internationally, and led to the enactment of the Cultural Properties Protection Act the following year. In 1955, January 26th, the day the fire occurred, was designated Cultural Property Fire Prevention Day. Even today, fire drills are held at temples and shrines across the country on January 26th.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1941/9214-1941-70348245bd2d91842f59f49b797dbeb6-395×222.jpg Asahi Shimbun article reporting the fire in the Kondo Hall, morning edition, January 27, 1949. Reproduction without permission from Asahi Shimbun is prohibited.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1941/9214-1941-f3dca65355dbc6e1e960fe14bc1fe44d-527×463.jpg Water cannon training within the grounds of Horyuji Temple = January 2025 ■Reasons for your support More than 70 years have passed since the murals were destroyed in the fire. Some people say, “I didn’t know the murals were destroyed in the fire,” “I knew they were destroyed in the fire but didn’t realize they were still stored at Horyuji Temple,” or “I thought the murals were completely destroyed.” It’s important for everyone to first understand the current state of the Golden Hall murals. By raising funds through crowdfunding, we hope to not only cover the costs of renovating the storage facility, but also help young people who will be responsible for preserving cultural assets in the future understand the current state of the Kondo murals and spark their interest in them. ■Crowdfunding Implementation Overview 1) Target Amount of Funding 9 million yen 2) Use of the grant – Holding limited-access archives and covering the costs of acquiring research data from the archives in connection with the access – Research activity expenses for fiscal year 2025 (photography of murals, etc. planned) – Various expenses for renovating the storage facility 3) Return 1. Tour of the storage facility 2. Visitor ticket: valid for the Saiin Garan, Daihozoin, and Toin Garan (valid until March 31, 2026) 3. Visit to the interior of the Kondo Hall *A donation of 12,000 yen will result in rewards 1.2., and a donation of 50,000 yen will result in rewards 1.2.3. *Each slot is on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once capacity is reached. *We also accept donations without a tour of the storage facility. (Starting at 1,000 yen) 4) Storage Room Tour Schedule ・October 20th (Mon) to October 31st (Fri), 2025, for a total of 11 days (Closed on the 28th) – Ten 30-minute slots each day between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM (break from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM) – A special tour that includes a tour of the storage facility followed by a 30-minute tour of the interior of the Kondo Hall starts at 12:00 PM each day 5) Recruitment Website “A-port Mirai” (Asahi Shimbun’s crowdfunding site supporting the preservation of cultural assets at temples and shrines) October 20-25:
https://a-portmirai.asahi.com/projects/horyujikondo2025 Visit from 10/26 to 31: https://a-portmirai.asahi.com/projects/horyujikondo2025-2 Tour with inside of Kondo:
https://a-portmirai.asahi.com/projects/horyujikondo2025-p Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1941/9214-1941-13de485609bb3f5632cf2a9bc0885372-471×286.jpg Horyu-ji Temple Golden Hall Press release attachments
