World
Heritage
"Historic
Monuments of Ancient Nara."
8
Assets
Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Kasuga-yama
Hill Primeval Forest, Gango-ji Temple, Yakushi-ji Temple, Toshodai-ji Temple,
and Heijo Palace Site | 
  
   
(photograph: Tatehiko Yano) | The
Nara established a capital in 710.
since, one thousand year have passed .
In December of 1998 opened the twentieth second world heritage in Kyoto,
and
「cultural assets of The ancient city of Nara」were registere
in the world
heritage of UNESCO.
*Name:
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
*Registered Item:
8 Assets,
namely Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, Kasuga Grand Shrine, Kasuga-yama Hill
Primeval Forest, Gango-ji Temple, Yakushi-ji Temple, Toshodai-ji Temple, Heijo
Palace Site, which include a total of 78 buidings: 25 designated as National Treasure,
53 as Important Cultural Property.
*Reasons for Registration
It was acknowledged that, out of the six criteria for the value judgement as to
a world heritage, the following three were met.
#The
asset should represent significant cultural exchange which brought about artistic
or technological development.
Our assets show that Japanese culture greatly
advanced through cultural exchange with China and Korea.
#The asset should
present an invaluable proof for the existence of a certain culture or civilization.
Our assets prove the culture which flourished in the ancient capital of Japan.
#The asset should exemplify an important age in the history of mankind.
Our assets give us some information about the Nara period, which was an important
historical age when political and cultural founations of Japan began to be strengthened.
#Matter has Universal meaning and all is closely related.
Shintoism
and Buddhism are closely related belief of Japanese people.
And that relationship
lives inside citzens and is continued through the year
with events that bring
people together.
- Inside
of East Asia include Japan's ancient capital which has been constructed with wooden
buildings in the palace ruins.
Therefore, these wooden buildings give evidence
of how past life was in the ancient capital.
- The
assets themselves and their surrounding environment have been carefully protected.
*Notable points:
(1)The primeval forest united formation with Kasuga Grand Shrine as an example
of cultural scenery and was registered for the first time in this country.
(2)The Heijo Palace Site was registered, which is the first designation in
the field of remains in Japan.
(3)The Shoso-in Storehouse was designated
as a national treasure, and the storage was registered as part of the group of
Todai-ji buildings. This is the first designation of the Imperial family's assets
in Japan.
As for the registration of our assets in the list of world heritages, these assets
of ours were not evaluated individually, but rather overall characters of the
history and culture in Nara, which are shown by the whole combination of these
8 assets, were highly valued. Therefore, we are sure to say that these assets
represent the whole city of Nara.
Besides these assets, Nara is rich in precious
cultural assets. Why don't you take this opportunity to visit Nara? The ancient
city with a historical and cultural elegance will warmly welcome you, and you
will find your mind at peace!
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