In Iiyama, a town of temples, the art of making Buddhist altars has been rooted since the early Edo period. The work is highly specialized, and production is carried out entirely within the region, from parts to assembly. The production area is centered around Buddhist altar shops that also serve as manufacturing wholesalers, with the shop owners also acting as finishers.
The reason why IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) have continued to this day is due to the strong Buddhist faith of the people of Iiyama, the ease with which raw materials can be obtained, and the climate being suitable for their production.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. The structure of the "wooden base" is an assembly type using "set-and-fit" construction.

  2. The lintel should be in the shape of a bow.

  3. Palace construction should utilize "bracket-shaped brackets."

  4. The painting should be done by hand using refined lacquer.

  5. Apply gold leaf using the maki-e and "glossy pressed" techniques.

   

  raw materials

  1. The base wood shall be pine, cedar, magnolia, or timber of equivalent quality.

  2. The metal fittings shall be made of copper, a copper alloy, or a metal of equivalent material.

  ３ 漆は、天然漆とすること。

• Work scene

  Work scene

  From woodworking and carving to lacquer painting, sheet metal carving, and gold leaf application, we introduce the process of creating IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) which embody the pinnacle of traditional craft techniques.
  The wood is prepared so that it can be assembled, and the palace (kuden) and bow-shaped lintel (yuminageshi) are put together. At the same time, carving is carried out on the cut wood and sheet metal. Once all the woodworking is complete, it is disassembled, lacquered, decorated with maki-e (gold lacquer) and gold leaf is applied. When all the parts are ready, they are finally assembled, and the Buddhist altar is completed.
  IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) are made with the intention of being used for a long time, and various features have been incorporated to make them easy to disassemble and repaint.

  Step 1: Wood preparation

  The distinctive gravitas of IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) stems from the generous use of thick woods such as Japanese white pine, cypress, cedar, magnolia, and katsura for the base. These woods are crafted using a technique called "hon-gumi" (traditional joinery).
  The columns and bases, and the columns and boards, are securely assembled using male and female molds (interlocking wooden joints), making it less likely for dimensions to be inaccurate.
  It features an easy-to-disassemble design, making it convenient for "washing" (a Japanese term for washing or cleaning).

  

  Step 2: Palace

  These altars are made using the "hijiki kumimono" technique, a method unique to IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars). Because they are assembled using these brackets, the altar can be easily disassembled by simply removing the brackets. Here too, the assembly method is designed with the intention of allowing for "washing" and repurposing.
  The multi-layered bracket system has bracket holes and decorative holes that run through each layer, and various types of brackets are inserted only into the bracket holes. Finally, decorative brackets are inserted to complete the bracket system.
  Another characteristic of IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) is the design of a bow-shaped lintel called a "yuminageshi," which allows the "hijiki kumikomi" (bracket joint) to be clearly visible.

  

  工程3： 彫刻

  The wood is prepared by drawing designs of flowers, birds, animals, and people, and then carving them using chisels and carving tools.

  

  Step 4: Painting

  The assembled wooden base is disassembled and then lacquered. The painting process consists of three steps: undercoating and sanding, undercoating and sanding, and finally, a flower-patterned or black lacquer finish using genuine lacquer.

  

  Step 5: Hardware

  Copper or brass plates are given corrosion resistance through a unique plating method using plum vinegar. They are glued together during processing to prevent scratches, so they can be reused after being re-plated with plum vinegar during washing. The design is transferred onto the metal fittings, and intricate patterns are engraved using various chisels.

  

  Step 6: Gofun-mori Makie (a type of lacquerware decoration using white pigment).

  This technique was devised to give a three-dimensional effect to maki-e (gold lacquer) decoration. Fine white pigment made from shell powder is applied to create a raised surface, and then lacquer is applied on top, with gold powder sprinkled on top. This technique makes the golden design appear to float, making its beauty stand out even more.
  Makie lacquerware features designs such as peacocks, peonies, chrysanthemums, paulownia, phoenixes, lotus flowers, bellflowers, bush clover, landscapes, celestial beings, tie-dye patterns, mist, and arabesque designs.

  

  Step 7: Foil stamping

  After applying the lacquer, the gold leaf is gently placed on top before it dries. Gently wiping the gold leaf with cotton wool brings out its beautiful luster. IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) use this "glossy gold leaf application method," which ensures that the gold leaf maintains its beautiful shine indefinitely.

  

  Step 8: Assembly

  Finally, all the parts are assembled to complete the altar. IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) are entirely handmade, and can be disassembled, cleaned, and revived, allowing them to be passed down and used for generations.

  

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  The joy of being thanked by customers -IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars)

  Grown in the snow-covered, deeply religious region of Iiyama, IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) are meticulously crafted, resulting in distinctive designs. Unique techniques are evident in the palace-like structure (kuuden) and the bow-shaped lintel (yuminageshi), clearly distinguishing them from those of other regions. The quiet gleam of these gold altars brings peace to the hearts of those who pray to them, making them cherished possessions passed down through generations.

   

  The creation of furnishings for honoring ancestors and the Pure Land, rooted in the salt road.

  Iiyama has flourished as a castle town since its construction by Uesugi Kenshin in 1579. Located along the Chikuma River, it was a key point for boat transportation, serving as the starting point for the "salt road" that carried salt, which was often scarce in the mountainous regions. The reason why Buddhist altars began to be made in Iiyama is not entirely clear, but it is certain that they are descended from KYO Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars). Thirty-six temples are mentioned in the folk songs that have been passed down in Iiyama. It has been a place with a long history of deep religious faith. We spoke with Mr. Ittoku Shanghai, Vice Chairman of IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) Business Cooperative, whose family has been selling Buddhist altars in Iiyama for generations.

  

   

  A distinctive appearance and features designed for long-term use.

  "There are many places that produce Buddhist altars, but you can recognize IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) at a glance." The unique palace-like structure made with bracketed wooden joints and the bow-shaped lintel designed to make the palace clearly visible are also requirements for its designation as a traditional craft. Care has been taken to ensure that the decorations are clearly visible to the person praying.
  "Its rational construction is also a key feature. Even if it gets old and tarnished, it can be easily disassembled, 'washed' (repainted), and restored to its former glory." It is designed from the outset to be used for generations, passed down to future generations.

  

  Dolls that make the traditional "elbow bracket" of IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars)

  It's a way to express gratitude to our ancestors.

  Iiyama is home to numerous Buddhist sects. While the construction of Buddhist altars differs slightly from sect to sect, it seems that people are not too strict about it.
  "I've heard a story from the Meiji era about a village where they delivered the same Buddhist altar to one household each year. The villagers formed a group and helped each other buy them." Gold Buddhist altars are indeed expensive. While there are relatively inexpensive altars available these days, they were originally such expensive items that they cost as much as a farmer's income for a year. The devout people of Iiyama have helped each other and spent money on these valuable items.

  A technique that has been passed down since the Heian period.

  "It is said that the basic techniques for metalworking have existed since the Heian period. However, I don't think we should be bound by tradition alone. In fact, Iiyama's Buddhist altars have been created by incorporating various techniques," says Makoto Washimori, a traditional craftsman in charge of metalworking. He spoke while hammering a copper plate with a chisel. "This hammering method is called 'keribori' (kicking carving). It is named because the pattern is carved as if kicking." As the chisel is struck with a fine rhythm, small semi-diamond-shaped notches are left in the traces left by the chisel. "It looks easy, but it's not something that can be done easily," said Shanghai, who was standing nearby.
  "We're making things that people will pray to every day, so there's a great joy in creating something that people will be grateful for," said Washimori. Shanghai nodded in agreement beside him.

  

  "Kick carving" is an ancient traditional technique of carving lines using only a chisel.

  We value quality items that can be used for a long time.

  These days, houses aren't as big as they used to be, so smaller Buddhist altars are being made to suit the current housing situation. During its peak sales period, production couldn't keep up, and apparently, during the New Year, Buddhist altar dealers would come to the craftsmen's homes to make mochi (rice cakes) for them. "IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) are made to be used for a long time. We live in an age where things are easily thrown away, but I think that when we return to an era where people value things that can be used for a long time, people will once again appreciate the value of Buddhist altars," says Shanghai.

  

  Washimori's work, "A Decorative Frame of the Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva," utilizes traditional techniques.

  Buddhist altars are not merely places to enshrine ancestors and the deceased, but also places to embody and worship the invisible Pure Land and Amida Buddha. Made from materials taken from the mountains protected by ancestors, these altars are passed down and worshipped for generations. The elaborately designed and magnificent IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars) serve as a spiritual anchor, fostering feelings of gratitude towards ancestors and the local environment in the hearts of those who worship them.

  Craftsman Profile

  Makoto Washimori

  "We're also working on creating pieces that utilize our expertise in Buddhist altar fittings. We create with a goal in mind, such as exhibiting our work at trade shows."

  The managing director of the Shanghai main store, a Buddhist altar business that has been in business for ten generations, says, "The way customers express their gratitude is different from when you sell ordinary products," describing the appeal of selling Buddhist altars.

  

  Anecdotes

  High economic growth and Buddhist altars

  One might think that IIYAMA Butsudan (Household Buddhist Altars), designated as a traditional craft, must have sold very well in the past, but surprisingly, the period when these altars sold the most was not so long ago, from the 1960s to the 1970s.
  In the past, only a select few wealthy merchants could afford to have expensive Buddhist altars in their homes. However, this doesn't mean that farmers didn't respect their ancestors. As Japan became wealthier during the period of rapid economic growth, they could finally afford Buddhist altars they had previously been unable to purchase. The 1960s and 70s saw them finally able to properly honor their ancestors, something they hadn't been able to do before. It seems that the first thing many people bought once they acquired money was a Buddhist altar.
  Even today, when people receive a lump sum of money from selling land or other sources, many first buy a Buddhist altar, saying, "I've sold the land that belonged to my ancestors." This shows the depth of their faith. It's important to pass on this respect for one's ancestors to the next generation.

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    The street lined with Buddhist altar shops is a magnificent sight.