Life and Prayer in the South Pacific

he South Pacific region lies to the south of the Japanese archipelago and is home to tens of thousands of islands both large and small, including Hawaii and New Guinea. Approximately 4,000 years ago, people of Asian ancestry crossed the seas and expanded into the South Pacific islands, where they went on to develop unique cultures and religious beliefs. The Tokyo National Museum collection includes numerous objects originating from these islands, primarily dating from the latter half of the 19th to the early 20th century. This was a time when the influence of modern civilization and Christianity caused rapid changes to South Pacific islanders' traditional lifestyles and beliefs. For this reason, the museum's collection includes items which can scarcely be found in their place of origin today.

This exhibition introduces a selection of objects from the museum collection which represent the traditional lifestyles and religious rituals of the South Pacific. These objects tell of the bountiful wisdom and spirituality of South Pacific islanders, who lived with limited land and resources.