Signing Ceremony. (Photo by Yongpai App)

On July 13, during the Ningbo-Japan Sister City Exchange Dialogue, the Tianyige Museum and the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum of Japan officially signed an International Exchange Agreement. The two institutions will establish a long-term cooperation mechanism focused on heritage preservation, academic research, joint exhibitions, and educational outreach, jointly promoting mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and Japanese traditional carpentry cultures.

This partnership stems from a deep alignment in their respective professional fields.

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, located in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, houses over 30,000 traditional woodworking tools from around the world. It has achieved remarkable accomplishments in the research and dissemination of traditional architectural craftsmanship. As a specialized museum, it holds significant influence in the realm of East Asian wooden architecture culture.

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum. (Photo by Yongpai App)

Baoguo Temple is among the first batch of nationally protected cultural heritage sites in China and is a key historical site in Ningbo for the “Maritime Silk Road” application for World Cultural Heritage status. Centered on the construction techniques of the Northern Song Dynasty Main Hall, Baoguo Temple has long been committed to East Asian architectural cultural exchange and research, focusing on decoding the craftsmanship secrets of the “Maritime Silk Road” embedded in its ancient structures.

Baoguo Temple Ancient Architecture Museum. (Photo by Yongpai App)

In 2019, the Baoguo Temple Ancient Architecture Museum and the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum co-hosted a special exhibition titled Hands of Master Craftsmen: 2,000 Years of Architectural Exchange Between China and Japan. Through rare artifacts and live demonstrations, the exhibition vividly showcased the deep-rooted connection between the two countries' wooden architectural techniques. It was listed as an official project (No. 101) for the “China-Japan Youth Exchange Promotion Year,” drawing strong interest and positive responses from across society. That successful collaboration laid the groundwork for this strategic agreement.

Xu Weiming, Deputy Director of the Tianyige Museum, who traveled to Japan for the signing, remarked, “From the resonance of Eastern craftsmanship to the shared commitment to safeguarding humanity’s cultural heritage, this agreement is not only a powerful alliance between museums, but also a cross-border dialogue of artisanal spirit.”

It is also worth noting that during the “Ningbo Day” event at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, the model of Baoguo Temple’s Main Hall, its cultural and creative products, and Tianyige’s digital art posters will be jointly showcased, vividly presenting to the world the rich heritage of Ningbo’s Maritime Silk Road culture.

Source: Yongpai App

Reporter: Huang Yinfeng

Correspondent: Zhang Yawen

Editor: Ye Ke