In the Shosoin of Todai-ji Temple, a wooden shelf is treasured, which is known as Tanazushi. Crafted 1300 years ago, it features a simple and practical construction 260-cm-wide and 140-cm-high, with three shelving boards laid across six support pillars. It is the oldest extant piece of Japanese furniture, and the prototype for shelves in Japan. Crafted from solid cedar, the shelf is said to have been used to store instruments and other furnishing goods. The appearance of the shelf, assembled without nails from wooden parts through the wisdom of the craftsmen and the pareddown sensibilities of the Japanese people at a time when saws did not yet exist, conveys an imposing dignity despite the unaffected and simple construction.
This shelved stand references the structures of classical architecture, such as the Todai-ji and Yakushi-ji temples constructed 1300 years ago, and the Horyu-ji temple that is the world’s oldest extant wooden structure.