Cultural Properties in 8K: The National Treasure “Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku”
- Date
- November 27, 2018 (Tue) - December 25, 2018 (Tue)
- Venue
- The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures-Interactive exhibition space
- Admission
- These works can be viewed by paying the admission fee for regular exhibits.
* The special exhibitions Collaborative Exhibition Project between the Tokyo National Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Marcel Duchamp and Japanese Art (Tuesday, October 2, 2018–Sunday, December 9, 2018, Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries) and The Buddhist Sculptures of Daiho’onji, Kyoto: Masterpieces by Kaikei and Jokei (Tuesday, October 2, 2018–Sunday, December 9, 2018, Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries), require separate admission fees.
- Organizers
- Tokyo National Museum, Nathional Center for the Promotion of Cltural Properties
- General Inquiries
- E-mail: bkc@nich.go.jp
This national treasure, which once adorned Eden, the Hall of Paintings, of Horyu-ji Temple in Nara, was painted almost one thousand years ago, based on the legend of Prince Shotoku (574-622). Now, it has been captured in detail with an ultra-high-definition camera. Viewers can freely zoom in on the images by using a tablet and display them on an 8K monitor, vividly bringing the prince’s story to life.
About The National Treasure “Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku”
Heian period, Enkyuu 1(1069)
Color on twill-weave silk ／ 10 panels
Tokyo National Museum
The National Treasure “Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku” (detail)
About the 8K Art Viewer
Each 1.9-by-1.5-meter painting in the illustrated biography was photographed in twenty-eight sections, which were then pieced back together to create 1.8 billion pixels of data. Viewers can quickly navigate the display by using a tablet, and enjoy 8K ultra-high definition even when zoomed in.