Change of Exhibits, Regular Exhibitions: Starting from November 19, 2019 (Tue)
Regular exhibitions at Tokyo National Museum are rotated almost every week. This page provides the latest information on the change of exhibits.
* Some works are exhibited for a longer period of time.
Honkan
In the mid-6th century, Buddhism was officially introduced into Japan from the kingdom of Baekje on the southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula. Japanese culture made a remarkable progress with the adoption of Buddhism. This gallery features early Buddhist statues, sutras, reliquaries, and ritual implements from the 6th–8th century.
Current exhibit includes:
Standing Bodhisattva, Asuka period, 7th century
Part of the Flower Garland Sutra, Vol. 9 (Called the "Burnt Sutra of Nigatsudō"), Nara period, 8th century (Gift of Mr. Yanagisawa Keiso)
Ritual Objects Used to Consecrate the Site of Kohfukuji Temple, Strips of Beaten Gold, Excavated from under altar of Main Hall at Kohfukuji, Nara
Ritual Objects Used to Consecrate the Site of Kohfukuji Temple, Eight-Lobed Mirror with Design of Flowers and Paired Butterflies, Excavated from under altar of Main Hall at Kohfukuji, Nara, Nara period, 8th century (National Treasure)
Ritual Objects Used to Consecrate the Site of Kohfukuji Temple, Large Gilt-Bronze Bowl, Excavated from under altar of Main Hall at Kohfukuji, Nara, Nara period, 8th century (National Treasure)
Buddhist art is one of the major genres that define Japanese art. Many masterworks date from the late Heian period, a time characterized as classical in Japanese art history. After the Kamakura period, Buddhist art further developed in its materials, methods, and styles as Zen schools and other new Buddhist schools emerged, together with the influence from the Chinese arts. This exhibit features artworks from the Heian to Kamakura periods, when Buddhist art most flourished, adding siginificant objects from the Nanbokucho and periods.
Current exhibit includes:
The Mandalas of the Two Realms, Kamakura period, 14th century
The Ninth Arhat, One of the Sixteen Arhats, Kamakura period, 13th-14th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Tenshinji, Tokyo)
The Bodhisattva Miroku, Passed down at Kōzanji Temple, Kyoto, Kamakura period, 13th century
Illustrated Biography of the Priest Honen, Vol. 20, Muromachi period, 15th cｅntury (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Taima Temple, Nara)
Volume 21 of [The Biography of Priest Hōnen], Muromachi period, 15th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Taima Temple, Nara)
Words of Prayer, By Jien, Kamakura period, 1224 (Important Cultural Property)
Words of Prayer by the Wife of Saionji Saneuji, Attributed to Sesonji Tsunetada, Kamakura period, dated 1282 (Important Cultural Property)
Succession of Priests and Their Biographies, Heian period, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)
Record of Dreams, By Myōe, Kamakura period, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Kōzanji Temple, Kyoto)
Head of a Monk’s Staff, Found on Mount Dainichi, Toyama, Heian period, 11th century (Important Cultural Property, Private collection)
Head of a Monk’s Staff, Heian period, dated 1142 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Tesshuji Temple, Shizuoka)
The courtiers were strongly involved in the arts through the Heian and Muromachi periods, their aesthetic tastes playing a great role in Japanese art history. Literature works such as waka poems and other calligraphy written by courtiers, and e-maki narrative picture scrolls displayed in this room with decorative art objects.
Current exhibit includes:
The Tale of a Crane, Vol. 1, Artist unknown, Edo period, 17th century (Gift of Ms. Nakajima Hiroko)
Part of the Collected Poems of Lady Ise (One of the "Ishiyama Fragments"), Attributed to Fujiwara no Kintō, Heian period, 12th century (Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)
This gallery features works by famous artists of the landscape-painting genre, along with famous works of bokuseki (calligraphy by Zen priests).
Current exhibit includes:
The White-Robed Bodhisattva Kannon, Painting by Shūen Ōsei; inscription by Liao'an Qingyu, Nanbokuchō period, 14th century (Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokyo)
Letter, By Kokan Shiren, Kamakura period, 14th century
This gallery features works by famous artists of the landscape-painting genre, along with famous works of bokuseki (calligraphy by Zen priests).
Current exhibit includes:
Armor (Dōmaru) with "Eurasian Jay" Lacing, Red at the Shoulders, Passed down by the Akita clan, lords of Miharu domain, Mutsu province, Muromachi period, 15th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Akita Kazusue)
Mounting for the Long Sword Named "Shishiō", Wooden black-lacquered scabbard, Kamakura period, 13th–14th century (Important Cultural Property)
In the 17th century, painters started depicting the lives of commoners in a genre known as ukiyo-e. With the advent of new printing technology, these images began to be reproduced in high numbers, and ukiyo-e gradually spread to all layers of society. The addition of colorists to the publishers’ craftsmen also led to the birth of the color print in the mid-18th century. From October 22–November 17, 2019, this gallery displays images of Ebisu, the god of trade and fishermen who was worshipped for thriving businesses, and seasonal pictures depicting daily life in the western part of Edo. The exhibition also includes theater playbills, actor prints, views of the Saruwaka theater district, prints depicting ancient and medieval Japanese poetry, and autumn scenery.
Current exhibit includes:
Act 5 of The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, By Katsushika Hokusai, Edo period, 19th century
"Oi" From the Series Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō Road, By Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Edo period, 1852
Year's End at the Yoshiwara from the Series Views of the Sumida River from Both Banks, By Katsushika Hokusai, Edo period, 19th century
In ancient and medieval times, Japan mainly adopted ideas and material culture from China and Korea. The arrival of Europeans in the mid-16th century, however, led to the introduction of new worldviews, technology, and science, such as Christianity, firearms, and the study of anatomy.
Toyokan
This part focuses on Chinese bronzes from about 1800 BC to AD 1000. The changing shapes and designs of the bronzes on display provide clues to the thoughts and shifting religious beliefs of ancient Chinese.
Current exhibit includes:
Sword, China, Spring and Autumn-Warring States period, 6th–5th century BC
Animal-Shaped Finial, Northern frontier of China, Spring and Autumn period, 6th–5th century BC
Stemmed Cup with Handles, China, Western Han dynasty, 2nd–1st century BC
Bu Jar, Taotie design, China, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th century BC (Gift of Ms. Sakamoto Kiku)
Bo Bell, Coiling dragon design, China, Warring States period, 5th century BC (Gift of Ms. Sakamoto Kiku)
Vase with Beast-Shaped Handles, China, Early Tang dynasty, 7th century (Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation)
Vase with Dragon Handles, China, Tang dynasty, 8th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
This part presents the changing expressions of Chinese ceramics from the 7th to the 19th century.
Current exhibit includes:
Bowl with Peonies and Butterflies, Glazed stoneware with gold, Ding ware, China, Reportedly found in Korea, Northern Song dynasty, 11th?12th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Inoue Tsuneichi and Mrs. Inoue Fumiko)
Ewer, Design in overglaze enamel and gold, Jingdezhen ware, China, Ming dynasty, 16th century (Important Art Object, Gift of Mr. Sakamoto Goro)
Jug, Arabesque design in underglaze blue, Jingdezhen ware, China, Ming dynasty, Xuande era (Private collection)
Square Bowl with Boys, Porcelain with overglaze enamel, Jingdezhen ware, Jiajing reign mark, China, Ming dynasty, Jiajing era (Private collection)
Dish, Plum tree design in famille rose enamel, Jingdezhen ware, China, Qing dynasty, Yongzheng era (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Vase with Two Lugs, Openwork and arabesque design in famille rose enamel, Jingdezhen ware, Qianlong reign mark, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong era
Tenmoku Tea Bowl Stoneware with "ash covered" glaze, Southern Song–Yuan dynasty, 13th–14th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)
Indian miniature paintings established a uniquely meticulous, colorful, and passionate style, with various painting schools. An appeal of the paintings to viewers is the abundance of elements vividly contained each picture, such as myths, music, and nature.
Current exhibit includes:
Tortoise Incarnation of Vishnu (Kurma Avatar), By the Bundi school, India, End of 17th–early 18th century
The wisdom used in daily life in the South Pacific is shown through the items on display, such as limestone mallets for grinding potatoes which were a staple food, blades made from pearl oysters to grate coconut pulp, and fabric made from pounded tree bark.
Current exhibit includes:
Tapa (Bark cloth) Beater, Hawaii, Polynesia, Early 20th century (Gift of Mr. Kuboki Takeo)
Tapa (Bark cloth), Fiji Islands, Melanesia, Second half of 19th–early 20th century
