Jump to content
Font Size：

Language

Karamono - Imported Chinese Artworks

  • Image of "The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo, By Liang Kai, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)"

    The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo, By Liang Kai, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room T1
    May 9, 2006 (Tue) - June 4, 2006 (Sun)

    After the end of the Kamakura period in the early 13th century, many artworks were brought to Japan by ship from China. These Chinese artworks were appreciated with Japan's unique aesthetic sense. Interior decorations or tools for the tea ceremony were made to be appreciated; they were not simply Chinese artworks, but a whole new style that came to be known as karamono.

    The important collection known as Higashiyama Gomotsu contains karamono items that are said to have belonged to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and Ashikaga Yoshimasa of the Ashikaga Shogunate (1336-1573).

    In this special thematic exhibition "Karamono - Imported Chinese Artworks" The display of Higashiyama Gomotsu held in conjunction with the display in the National Treasure Gallery includes artwork of the highest caliber by Liang Kai - the triptych of Sakyamuni Returning from Mountain after Hard Ascetic Practices and Snowy Landscape - to occupy an important part in the museum's karamono collection. The items formerly owned by the Ashikaga Shogunate and entered in the Catalogue of the Painting in Muromachi Shogunate Collection include artwork by Liang Kai, Yujian, Yan Hui, Zhao Chang. This also includes a famous celadon glazed tea bowl known as Bakohan that was passed to the Ashikaga Shogunate.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
 The Sixth Patriarch Cutting Bamboo, By Liang Kai, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)
Autumn Moon over Lake Dongting, By Yujian, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Bamboos and Insects, Attributed to Zhao Chang, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)
Hanshan and Side, Attributed to Yan Hui, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
Colophons for the Baoningsi Temple, By Feng Zizhen, Yuan dynasty, dated 1327 (Important Cultural Property)
Tea Bowl, Known as Bakohan, Celadon glaze, Longquan ware, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century, China (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Mitsui Takahiro)
Bowl, Celadon glaze, Guan ware, Southern Song dynasty, 12th - 13th century, China (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Vase with Long Neck, Celadon glaze, Longquan ware, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century, China (National Treasure, Lent by Foundation Arc-en-ciel, Tokyo)
Exhibitions