Major Works in this Exhibition

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Ornamental Pin
Iran or Iraq, Parthian period, 2nd–3rd century

Could they be husband and wife? The appearance of this intimate couple eating and drinking is impressive. The scene possibly depicts a funerary banquet.

Pillow, Three-color glaze with stamped mandarin duck design
China, Tang dynasty, 8th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)

Mandarin ducks symbolized harmonious marital relations in China. The combination with lotuses, which represented fertility, make this a very auspicious composition.

Playing the Flute in Springtime on the Water
By Zhu Xin, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1783 (Gift of Dr. Hayashi Munetake)

This fan painting captures the Southern Song-dynasty (1127–1279) poet Jiang Kui playing flute, and his beloved Lady Xiao Hong listening to his melodies on a clear spring day.

*From September 18, 2019

Box in the Shape of Waterfowl
China, Qing dynasty, 19th century

This box depicts a family of frolicking waterfowls. Male and female birds combined with lotuses symbolize fertility. Since lotus sounds the same as love in Chinese, lotuses also stand for love.

Folding Screen with Birds and Flowers
Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)

This auspicious screen with pairs of birds and plants is not painted but embroidered. It adorned the room of a newly married woman.

Nayaka Aiming a Bow and Arrow with Nayika on His Lap
India, By the Bikaner school, India, Early 18th century

In this painting, the man is taking aim at a rooster not shown in the painting, but familiar to viewers from a poem. The poem tells that if the rooster does not crow, the sun won’t rise. This way, the lovers can stay together forever.

*Indian miniature paintings depict love in many settings.Paintings in this exhibition contain sexual content that may not be suitable for all audiences.

Wayang Kulit: Raden Arjuna
Central Java, Indonesia, 20th century (Gift of Mr. Matsumoto Ryo)

Wayang Kulit: Dewi Banowati
Central Java, Indonesia, 20th–21st century (Gift of Mr. Matsumoto Ryo)

Wayang Kulit is traditional shadow-puppet theater from Indonesia. The beautiful woman Banowati admires the handsome Arjuna, but becomes the wife of his archenemy. Arjuna and his enemy then become allies on the battlefield…

Box with Birds and Flowers
China, Ming dynasty, 15th century

This box is decorated with two white-headed birds in mother-of-pearl inlay. Since, the white head of the birds allude to an elder couple, the motif symbolizes everlasting love.

Special Tours: Journey through Indonesia with TNM Curators (Japanese only)

Each day there will be a 70-minute tour of the Toyokan (Asian Gallery) led by three curators.

Meeting place: Toyokan entrance hall

*Participants will walk through the Toyokan galleries. Please join wearing comfortable shoes.

Representations of Love in Asian Art (Japanese only)

Venue: Heiseikan-Auditorium
Lecture by: Katsuki Gen'ichiro, Curator of Asian Art
Limited to: 380 seats (first-come first-served)

Wayang Kulit: Shadow Puppet Theater from Java (in Japanese)

Traditional Indonesian Puppet Theater

Performance by: Sumilir
Venue: Hyokeikan
Seating Capacity: 100

*Pre-application is closed.

Easy Seated Yoga in Toyokan (Japanese only)

This year we are also doing our very popular yoga classes! Join us in practicing yoga in front of real artworks!

Instructor: Miho Watanabe
Capacity: 20

Journey through Asia at the Tokyo National Museum: Asia in Love

Price: 500 yen (Tax excluded)
24p (All color)

*On sale in the museum shop