THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM 



pictures of various types according to the subject with 

 which it is desired to familiarize the player; in this case 

 Japanese heroes, in others religions, famous places, etc.; 

 many different specimens of this game are shown in these 

 galleries. 



Kites, the flying of which is enjoyed by old and young in 

 Japan, chess, backgammon and other games, dice and toys 

 are shown in this corridor, and in alcoves on the left are 

 reproductions of antiques and art treasures from the Im- 

 periar Treasure at Nara. Nara was the residence of the 

 Mikados from a.d. 708 to 782, after which the court was 

 removed to Kioto. At the time of the removal, the Imperial 

 furniture and property of all kinds were stored in the large 

 wooden storehouse, "Shoso-in," built for the purpose. 

 Here it remained packed in wooden chests for nearly 1 ,200 

 years and is now exhibited in corridors surrounding the 

 temple. This celebrated collection of antiques and curios 

 includes books, sculptures, screens, pottery, masks, copper 

 bowls, ornaments, weapons and utensils of all kinds, as well 

 as dresses and fabrics. The larger part of these are of 

 foreign origin, many of them Chinese. 



In a case at the left of this corridor, an exhibit of bows 

 and arrows shows practice, hunting and ceremonial arrows, 

 arrows in different stages of manufacture, practice and long 

 distance bows and a crossbow four hundred years old. The 

 arrow has an important place in primitive culture, and 

 those of each individual bear his name, except in the case 

 of war arrows. They are used ceremonially for purposes 



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