Sheila Cliffe explores Asian weaving in Indonesia and Uzbekistan, their links to Japan, and how respectful cultural exchanges lead to exciting innovations. Published on By The in Nara, a part of Todaiji temple, is well-known for its Azekura-style architecture and a raised log cabin built of horizontally placed triangular logs. It is also known for its storage house of Japan’s ancient treasures.
The treasures kept in there were from Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo and date from 701-760 AD. After this time, the treasure house was closed. This meant that these ancient treasures were able to survive intact to this day.
The building is a national treasure and also a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are many kinds of items stored in the Shosoin. Some are Buddhist images and musical instruments, and others are furniture, clothing, and armor.
Although many items are of Japanese origin, some are actually from abroad or show the influence of other countries and cultures. This had not really struck me as very significant until I realized that one tends to think of Japanese culture as being rather pure because of Japan's long period of relative isolation during the Edo period, and also because of its location in the Far East. However, I recently had the chance to go to two different countries in Asia.
The trip sparked my interest in the similarities and differences between the textile cultures of Japan and other countries. My first trip abroad was to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan lies in the.