About Hikone Butsudan (Hikone Buddhist Altar)
Hikone Butsudan are Buddhist altars produced in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. Said to have developed with craftsmen gathering under encouragement from the Hikone domain from the mid-Edo period. Known as a gold altar production area, craftsman techniques including gold leaf application, maki-e, and decorative metal fittings are all concentrated here. Widely supplied to temples and homes in the Jodo Shinshu-prevalent regions of Shiga and Hokuriku. Known as a representative traditional craft of Shiga alongside the historic backdrop of Hikone Castle town.
Techniques & Materials
Craft terms are shown in the original Japanese — these are proper names with no standard English equivalents.
Techniques
金箔押し蒔絵錺金具宮殿造り
Materials
金箔天然漆木材真鍮金具
Where to see & buy
Workshop names are in Japanese; links go to their official sites.