A special exhibition titled "Koto Otsu Shaji no Meiho," or precious treasures of shrines and temples in the lake city Otsu, which displays Buddhist and Shinto statues owned by ten shrines and temples in Otsu City, will start on October 10 at the Otsu City Museum of History, Goryo-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. There are approximately 100 items on exhibit, including one National Treasure and about 40 Important Cultural Properties. The exhibition introduces the profound historical religious culture of Otsu City.

The exhibition is a commemorative project for the 50th anniversary of "Koshin-kai," an association consisting of ten shrines and temples in the city, including Enryakuji Temple, Hiyoshi-taisha Shrine, and Onjoji Temple which is more commonly known as Miidera Temple.

Among the displayed items, the standing statues of "Jikokuten Ritsuzo" and "Zochoten Ritsuzo" which are located on both sides of the statue of "Sho Kanzeon Bosatsu," the principal image of Anyoji Temple, more commonly known as Tachiki Kannon, will be exhibited for the first time outside the temple. They seem to have been made in the late Heian Period, and carved from the same tree as the principal image. Stone guardian dogs owned by Hiyoshi-taisha Shrine will also be displayed for the first time. It is said they were possibly made prior to the shrine being burnt down when Enryakuji Temple was deliberately destroyed by fire in the 16th century.

Among items on display are the reliquary "Shari Yoki," a National Treasure owned by Omi-Jingu Shrine, the seated wooden statue "Megami Zazo," an Important Cultural Property owned by Takebe-Taisha Shrine, and the standing wooden statue "Jyuichi-men Kannon Ryuzo," an Important Cultural Property owned by Miidera Temple. Also displayed is the seated statue of "Hokan Amida Nyorai Zazo," or a coroneted Amitabha Tathagata which was possibly created by the Buddhist image sculptor Kaikei in the Kamakura Period, and is owned by Hiden-in hall in Sennyuji Temple, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto.

The exhibition will continue until November 23. General admission is 800 yen, 400 yen for high school and college students, and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students.