are fragments primarily consisting of the benkan (ceremonial crown) of Emperor Shà Âmu (r.724âÂÂ749) and the ceremonial crown of Empress Kà Âmyà  (701âÂÂ760) of Japan. These items were damaged during the Kamakura period (1185âÂÂ1333) when the crowns were removed from storage, and they have been preserved in their incomplete form. It has also been suggested that these remnants may include the crown of Empress Kà Âken (r.749âÂÂ758; reascended as Empress Shà Âtoku, r.764âÂÂ770) and fragments of ceremonial crowns belonging to various courtiers. They are part of the Shà Âsà Âin treasures.
Although the formal name is Surviving Portions of Ornaments for Imperial Ceremonial Attire and Crowns, the ceremonial attire itself has not survived. Therefore, in recent years, it has simply been referred to as .
Among the surviving portions of ornaments for imperial ceremonial attire and crowns, a wooden tablet (mokuhai) has been preserved, which was found in a box containing the ceremonial attire (including crowns) of the Daijà  Tennà  (Retired Emperor Shà Âmu) and the Kà Âtaigà  (Empress Dowager Kà Âmyà Â). The front of the tablet indicates that one complete set for each of them was stored in the box, while the back of the tablet bears the date "April 9, Tenpyà  Shà Âhà  4" (752). This date corresponds to the day of the Eye-Opening Ceremony for the Great Buddha of Tà Âdai-ji. Therefore, it is understood that both sets were used on that occasion.
Although the crowns do not retain their original shape, surviving fragments include metal ornaments with motifs of the sun, phoenixes, auspicious clouds, flowers, and arabesque patterns, as well as made of pearls, coral, and lapis lazuli strung together with threads.
According to the of Enryaku 12 (793) and the of Kà Ânin 2 (811), Emperor Shà Âmu's benkan (ceremonial crown) is described as: "Adorned with gold and silver jewels on , with two black-purple , and stored in a small octagonal red-lacquered box."
The term kurinousuhata refers to black silk gauze and is believed to correspond to the part of the crown that covers the known as a . This section is surrounded by decorations of gold and silver jewels, with two black-purple braided cords and it was stored in a small octagonal red-lacquered box. This small box still exists today.
Among the surviving fragments, it is difficult to determine which pieces belonged to Emperor Shà Âmu. However, the ryà « (pendant tassels) made of large and small pearls interspersed with lapis lazuli beads in shades of blue, green, yellow, and red are believed to be from the benkan (ceremonial crown) of the emperor.
Additionally, a sun-shaped ornament is also thought to belong to Emperor Shà Âmu's benkan. Made of gilt bronze, it features eight rays, from which hang yà Âraku (beaded pendants) strung with pearls and lapis lazuli beads. Unlike later crowns, the sun does not feature a three-legged crow.
According to the records in the Bakuryà Âshige, Empress Kà Âmyà Â's crown is described as: "Adorned with pure gold phoenixes and jewels in the shape of kudzu leaves made of gold and silver, with two white braided cords attached, and stored in a small hexagonal red-lacquered box." Among the surviving fragments, a gold phoenix ornament is thought to be from Empress Kà Âmyà Â's crown. Near the base of the wings, there are traces of a pair of inlaid jewels, suggesting that gemstones were originally embedded there.
In the third year of Ninji (1242), during preparations for the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Go-Saga, an inspection of ceremonial attire (raifuku goran) was conducted. The is a ritual in which the ceremonial attire to be worn by the emperor during the enthronement is examined beforehand. According to Heikoki, the diary of Taira no Tsunetaka (covering the years 1227âÂÂ1246), it was discovered during this inspection that the benkan was damaged. The benkan stored in the Imperial Treasury (Kuraryà Â) had been targeted by thieves in previous years, who stole all the gold, silver, and jewels, leaving only fragments of silk gauze. This stolen benkan is believed to have been made during the reign of Emperor Seiwa (r. 858âÂÂ876). Since a replacement was needed in time for the enthronement ceremony, and a model was required, the decision was made to retrieve Emperor Shà Âmu's benkan stored in the Shà Âsà Âin.
At this time, two jeweled crowns belonging to Emperor Shà Âmu and two belonging to empresses, totaling four crowns, along with 26 ceremonial crowns of court officials, were also retrieved. After the enthronement ceremony, these crowns were returned to the Shà Âsà Âin. However, during their return, the four imperial crowns suffered significant damage, as recorded in the , a temple chronicle from the Kamakura period.
These damaged crowns are what we now know as the surviving portions of the imperial crowns (onkanmuri zanketsu). Some theories suggest that the damage was not accidental but that parts were hastily repurposed to create Emperor Go-Saga's benkan.
According to the records mentioned above, there should have been only one benkan belonging to Emperor Shà Âmu. However, since one of the crowns with ryà « (pendant tassels) was associated with Empress Kà Âken, it may have been mistakenly identified as a male emperor's benkan. The two empresses' jeweled crowns are thought to refer to Empress Kà Âmyà Â's ceremonial crown and Empress Kà Âken's .
According to , a collection of works by Arai Hakuseki (1657âÂÂ1725), there is a description stating: "In the Nara Shà Âsà Âin, there is Emperor Shà Âmu's benkan, but thieves took it, stole the jewels and gold, and discarded the remains into a ditch. This occurred during the time of the official Itakura Shigemune."
On the other hand, the Tà Âdai-ji Sansà  Kaifà « Kanrei, a temple record, notes that a theft occurred on the 24th day of the intercalary 10th month of Keichà  17 (1612). At this time, the Kyoto Deputy (shoshidai) was Itakura Katsushige (Iga no Kami), the father of Itakura Shigemune. Therefore, some believe that the damage incurred during the retrieval in the third year of Ninji (1242) was not severe, and that the current state of damage progressed due to the theft in 1612.