Unrivaled Calligraphy: Yan Zhenqing and His Legacy
Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries January 16, 2019 (Wed)-February 24, 2019 (Sun)
This exhibition will explore Yan Zhenqing and his work, its influence on future generations, and its reception in Japan.
National Treasures of To-ji Temple; Kukai and the Sculpture Mandala
Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries March 26, 2019 (Tue)-June 2, 2019 (Sun)
This comprehensive exhibition will present cultural properties handed down at To-ji, with a focus on the numerous treasured articles associated with Kukai himself. The Lecture Hall of To-ji houses Kukai’s sculpture mandala, a three-dimensional representation of the pantheon of Shingon Buddhism. This exhibition will feature an unprecedented 15 of the mandala’s 21 sculptures, including 11 National Treasures and 4 Important Cultural Properties.
Chinese Painting: Vestiges of Wang Xizhi’s Style of Calligraphy; Developments up to the Tang Dynasty
Toyokan Room 8 January 2, 2019 (Wed)-March 3, 2019 (Sun)
The avant-garde calligraphy of Wang Xizhi hugely influenced the calligraphy of the Northern and Southern dynasties. This exhibition traces the process of how the beautiful and intellectual style of the Tang dynasty came into existence.
Hina and Japanese Dolls
Honkan Room 14 February 5, 2019 (Tue)-March 17, 2019 (Sun)
It is custom in Japan to display ornamental Emperor and Empress dolls on March 3. This is done to pray for the health and happiness of girls.The dolls are imbued with the Japanese aesthetic reverence for delicate, beautiful and adorable objects.
Burials in China: Early White Porcelain: Its Birth and Development
Toyokan Room 5 January 2, 2019 (Wed)-April 21, 2019 (Sun)
This thematic exhibition sheds light on Chinese white porcelain, namely when and how it was born and how it evolved. For this exhibition, precious works of early white porcelain, which are shrouded in mystery, have been specially selected from the collections of the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation and the Tokyo National Museum.
Noh Masks and Costumes of the Uesugi Clan
Honkan Room T1 & T2 January 29, 2019 (Tue)-March 31, 2019 (Sun)
Noh—a masked drama unique to Japan—was enjoyed, supported, and studied by members of the warrior class, and performed at official events of the military government in the Edo period (1603–1868). These exquisite objects are valuable not only for their artistic quality, but also for their association with the successive lords of the Uesugi clan, who appreciated and patronized the performing art of Noh.
