About Kanazawa Butsudan (Kanazawa Buddhist Altar)
Kanazawa Butsudan are Buddhist altars produced in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Nurtured within the rich cultural soil of the Kaga domain—the one-million-koku fief—they are lavishly ornate altars known as a 'treasury of crafts,' combining gold leaf, maki-e lacquer, raden (mother-of-pearl inlay), carving, and metalwork from Kaga's traditional craft traditions. The lacquer techniques of Wajima-nuri and Yamanakas-shikki are fused with the gold leaf application of Kanazawa hakuza, producing a refined interior and intricate exterior renowned throughout Japan. Developed under the patronage of the Maeda clan of the Kaga domain, this production area is a culmination of its craft culture, with many craftspeople still maintaining the tradition of dividing production among specialized artisans.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
Materials
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.
- 金沢仏壇仏具組合（産地にご確認ください）