Finding Cherry Blossoms in the Jananese Gallery (Honkan)
National Treasure Gallery
Merrymaking under Blossom Trees
By Kano Naganobu, Edo period, 17th century (National Treasure)
Room2, March 13 - April 8, 2018
Depicted on this pair of screens is a scene of cherry blossom viewing by people dressed in garments with the latest designs. Whether it was intended to portray a particular event or setting is unclear. The surrounding trees and curtains, however, create a dramatic effect in which the people performing a folk dance and the ladies watching them appear as though they were on a stage.
Courtly Art: Heian - Muromachi period
Horse Stables (detail)
Muromachi period, 16th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Okazaki Masaya)
Room3, March 20 - April 22, 2018
This painting depicts six horses in a stable across two screens. The right end shows pines, wisteria, herons, and tortoises, while the left portrays cherry and willow trees, cranes, and mandarin ducks. There are also people playing traditional board games such as igo, shogi, and sugoroku, as well as a dog and a monkey. Although the primary theme is fine horses, this work features auspicious “flower and bird” motifs and elements of genre painting.
Folding Screens and Sliding Door Paintings: Azuchi-Momoyama - Edo period
Cherry Blossom Viewing (detail)
By Sumiyoshi Gukei, Edo period, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Nishiwaki Kenji)
Room 7, March 20 - April 22, 2018
A prince at his villa with his attendants is portrayed enjoying composing poems among cherry blossoms in a scene from The Tales of Ise.
The Arts of Daily Life: Azuchi-Momoyama - Edo period
Tiered Stand, Mount Yoshino design in maki-e lacquer
Edo period, 19th century (Gift of Ms. Yano Tsuruko)
Room 8, January 30 - April 15, 2018
Making ample use of thin sheets of gold, this bookcase is adorned with scenes of Mount Yoshino in Nara, which has been famous for its brilliant cherry blossoms since antiquity.
書画の展開
Ode to Cherry Blossoms
By Sakuma Shozan, Edo period, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Aizu Hideo)
Room 8, March 20 - April 15, 2018
In this poem, the narrator entrusts his loyalty to Japan to the beauty of its cherry blossoms. It was written while its author, Sakuma Shozan, was confined in his home on suspicion of secretly playing a part in the overseas passage of his student Yoshida Sho’in, during the time of Japan’s seclusionist policy. An advocate of international exchange, at 54 years of age Shozan was attacked and killed by seclusionists in the Sanjo district of Kyoto. Produced during his final years, this work demonstrates a mastery of the styles of Chinese Tang dynasty calligrapher Yan zhenqin.
Ukiyo-e and Fashion in the Edo Period: Ukiyo-e
Cherry Blossom Viewing at Asukayama
By Torii Kiyonaga, Edo period, 18th century
Room 10, March 20 - April 15, 2018
Ukiyo-e and Fashion in the Edo Period: Fashion
Furisode (Garment with long sleeves), Design of weeping cherries, chrysanthemums, and tanzaku poem cards on a parti-colored chirimen crepe ground
Edo period, 18th century
Room 10, February 20 - April 22, 2018
This garment for an unmarried woman is decorated with patterns of spring plants at the top and autumn plants at the bottom, making it appropriate for both seasons.
Japanese Sculpture
Standing Fudo Myo'o (Acalanatha)
Heian period, 11th century (Gift of Mr. Okano Tetsusaku)
Room 11, February 6 - April 15, 2018
The fearsome deity Acalanatha is tasked with converting unbelievers to Buddhism. This is one of the earliest standing images of him and was carved from cherry, a wood that was rarely used in Buddhist sculpture.
Ceramics
Bowl, Cherry tree design in overglaze enamel and openwork
By Nin'nami Dohachi, Edo period, 19th century
Room 13, February 27 - May 20, 2018
Created by a renowned Kyoto potter who was active in the late Edo period (1603-1868), this bowl features cherry trees, and has a box bearing inscriptions.
Modern Art
Spring Landscape at Arashiyama
By Shiokawa Bunrin, Dated 1873 (Gift of the artist)
Room 18, March 20 - May 6, 2018