Nagaoka Household Buddhist Altars Buddhist Altars and Accessories Niigata Prefecture Cooperative Union Nagaoka Household Buddhist Altar Association 2-15 Yanagihara-machi, Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture tel 0258-35-2901 Background During the 17th century, a number of temples and shrines were built in and around the city of Nagaoka. It seems that the specialist carpenters, sculptors of Buddhist images, sculptors of other carved elements and lacquerers who had come into the area from all over the country because of this building work, started making household Buddhist altars during the winter months. Then, during the first half of the 19th century, a production center became established in the area. This had a lot to do with the fact that the Nagaoka clan gave its official patronage to the Jodo Shinshu. As a result, the demand for household altars increased as the worship of Buddhist mortuary tablets took hold, and homes throughout the fief were furnished with them. Because the upper cabinet and lower stand of the Nagaoka household altar can be separated, it is possible to re-apply surface coatings of lacquer periodically, over say 30 to one hundred years. The "trinity style" of roofs of the kuden or inner part of the altar is a noteworthy feature. Traditional in style, there is a combination of Chinese style gable and a more conventional gable with a rising profile above further Chinese style gables to either side. The making of these altars is now managed by 41 firms employing 195 staff. Among these are 4 government recognized Master Craftsmen.