Unearthed Painting Fragments Point To Ancient Fire In Nara

Mainichi ^ | 12-01-2004 | Manichi Shimbun

[blam]

Unearthed painting fragments point to ancient fire in Nara

IKARUGA, Nara -- Numerous fragments of burned wall paintings have been unearthed at Nara Prefecture's Horyuji Temple, underscoring descriptions in ancient literature of a fire that broke out in 670.

Mainichi Shimbun
Horyuji Temple

Officials of the Ikaruga Municipal Board of Education said they believed wall-painting fragments found near the famous Minami Daimon gate of Horyuji Temple were those from a hall in the temple, which was built in the early 7th century.

Horyuji holds another set of paintings created at the end of the 7th century that are believed to be the oldest in Japan.

Experts found that the fragments had been exposed to temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius, leading to suspect that the wall paintings were destroyed in a fire at the temple.

Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), a text that comprises Japan's oldest official history, says that every structure of Horyuji was destroyed in a fire in 670. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Dec. 1, 2004)

[blam]

Anyone interested in this?

[blam]

GGG Ping.

Slim pickings today.

[Zeppo]

Hmmm... When I visited Nara about ten years ago, I saw the pagoda, and the deer, and Todaiji with the giant Buddha, but somehow I seem to have missed Horyuji... Have to go back again, I guess...

[troglodyte]

I am - thanks for posting

[TXnMA]

We lived in Japan for three years -- and visited Horyuji. I am also deeply involved in archaeology and historic preservation -- so, Yes, I am interested in this!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. Slim pickings today. Still, interesting. And officially on the cusp of ancient/medieval... plus, we do non-ancient topic pings now and then. It gives me an idea for a topic, not a new discovery to be sure, but probably of interest.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops. Didn't get your name added until after the ping. Welcome again to GGG.

[Fedora]

Cool. Hopefully they'll show the paintings online. Might be some clues there.

[RightWhale]

It's a famous place in Orientalism, but not for historical reasons.

[farmfriend]

ping

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #6

Horyuji housed a wall painting by Koguryo monk Damjing The first one was reportedly burnt down, and its replica is now in its place. It also has a Paekje statue.

It is one of ancient Japanese sites which show close cultural connection to ancient Korea(Koguryo and Paekje.)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #1

See #11.

[blam]

"It is one of ancient Japanese sites which show close cultural connection to ancient Korea(Koguryo and Paekje.)"

Thanks, that makes it more interesting.

[blam]

China Publishes Research Results On Koguryo Kingdom Ruins