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Folding Screens

  • Image of "Illustrated Biography of Priest Honen, Kamakura period, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)"

    Illustrated Biography of Priest Honen, Kamakura period, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 7 & 8
    April 24, 2007 (Tue) - June 3, 2007 (Sun)

    Folding screens in Japan have been used traditionally as furniture. They divide a large space into smaller ones, for both public and private occasions and were integrated into daily life.
    When seen today in museums, however, the focus tends to shift towards the subject of the screens, the illustrations and calligraphy, rather than their original purpose. However, often the subjects and styles depicted were determined by their use. This exhibition serves to relay this information and open one's eyes to the exciting world of the Japanese screen, including their appearance in various emaki (picture scrolls). It charts the changes made to the size and materials used in screens over time, as well as provide an overview of their various uses.

    The screens in Room 7 are used to display the construction and changing sizes, meanwhile, Room 8-2 is used to display screens that were made from fusuma (sliding doors), screens that feature illustrations and calligraphy, as well as those rendered in oil paints, yuzen dyeing techniques, and embroidery.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Screen with Calligraphy Formed of Wild Geese Feathers (copy of the Original in Shosoin Repositiory), Meiji period, ca.1878/original: Nara period, 8th century (Transferred from Department for Exposition Universelle in Paris)
Waves, By Maruyama Okyo (1733-95), Edo period, dated 1788 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Kongoji, Kyoto)
Preface to Orchid Pavillion Gathering and Poetry Party at Orchid Pavillion, By Azuma Toyo, Edo period, dated 1827 (Gift of Mr. Azuma Ryozo)
Illustrated Biography of Priest Honen, Kamakura period, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)
Exhibitions