Special Exhibition
Tōfuku-ji: Monumental Zen Temple of Kyoto
Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries ：March 7, 2023 (Tue) - May 7, 2023 (Sun)
Famous for its springtime greenery and autumn foliage, Tōfuku-ji is one of Kyoto’s most prominent Zen temples. It was established at the behest of Regent Kujō Michiie—the most powerful official at the imperial court—and was inspired by the great temples of Tōdaiji and Kōfukuji in Nara. Tōfuku-ji’s buildings are collectively referred to as “the façade of Tōfuku-ji” for their massive, imposing scale.
This exhibition is the first ever to comprehensively introduce Tōfuku-ji’s temple treasures. These include The Five Hundred Arhats, a monumental work by the “painter-saint” Minchō, which will be displayed for the first time since conservation. Also included are countless examples of invaluable cultural heritage that survived the devastating Ōnin War as well as exquisite Buddhist sculptures, paintings, and works of calligraphy that mirror the grand scale of Tōfuku-ji’s buildings.
Tracing the history of Tōfuku-ji from its early years and exploring the Zen culture that flourished through exchange with mainland Asia, this exhibition presents in depth the significance of Tōfuku-ji in Japanese culture.