文化財保護法制定後の国宝建造物指定方針と戟後の「国宝」概念の形成

摘要

A five-year "National Treasure Important Art Structure Emergency Repair Project" was undertaken from 1946 in the wake of World War II but at first made little progress. It was found necessary to establish a new "National Treasure" classification in order to justify the large number of historic buildings to be included under a limited national budget. The undeniable appeal to national sentiment shown in the new definition of "National Treasure" was seemingly related to the contemporary slogan "Build the Cultural Nation." The Council of Cultural Properties appointed by the Ministry of Education finished designating most of these structures by 1955. The revised concept comprised three overlaid values: Scarcity in terms of age or uniqueness, Representativeness of style and each period's characteristic building types, and Aesthetic Value, whether in design or construction.%周知のように、昭和25年の文化財保護法制定により、従前の国宝保存法時代の「国宝」建造物は一旦全て「重要文化財」と名称変更され、その中から新たに「国宝」が選別されるという二段階の指定制度が導入された。同法制定直後において新「国宝」の数は「重要文化財」（＝旧「国宝」）の2割ないし3割程度とされたから、指定作業の当事者にとっては、数少ない「国宝」を選別すべく、それに相応しい価値をもつかどうかを判断する基準を新たに作ることが不可欠となったはずである。