Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
1st floor Room 1
April 10, 2018 (Tue) -
April 7, 2019 (Sun)
February 13, 2019 (Wed), Asian Gallery (Toyokan)
The galleries feature art and artifacts from regions including China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, India, and Egypt.
1st floor
Seated Buddha, China, Sixteen Kingdoms period, 4th century
Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
1st floor Room 1
April 10, 2018 (Tue) - April 7, 2019 (Sun)
This section mainly features stone or gilt bronze Buddhist statues from about the 6th to the 8th century. The statues on display present the exquisite form of sculptures from the golden era of Buddhist statues in China.
Current exhibit includes:
Seated Buddha, China, Sixteen Kingdoms period, 4th century
Standing Avalokitesvara, China, Northern Wei dynasty, dated 524
Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent and Four Attendants, China, Northern Qi dynasty, 6th century
Standing Buddha Triad, China, Eastern Wei dynasty, 6th century, Important Cultural Property
Ekadasamukha in a Niche, Baoqingsi temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China, Tang dynasty, 8th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Hosokawa Moritatsu)
2nd floor
Large Dry Lacquer Vessel, Attributed provenance: Hui County, Henan Province, China, Warring States period, 5th–3rd century BC (Important Art Object, Lent by the OKURA MUSEUM OF ART, Tokyo)
Large Dry Lacquer Vessel
2nd floor Room 2
April 10, 2018 (Tue) - March 31, 2019 (Sun)
Large Dry Lacquer Vessel, Attributed provenance: Hui County, Henan Province, China, Warring States period, 5th–3rd century BC (Important Art Object, Lent by the OKURA MUSEUM OF ART, Tokyo)
Jar with Two Handles, Roman period, 2nd century (Gift of Mr. Momose Osamu and Mrs. Momose Fumiko)
Artifacts from West Asia and Egypt
2nd floor Room 3
January 16, 2019 (Wed) - April 7, 2019 (Sun)
This part intrduces artifacts from West Asia and Egypt, known as the cradle of the earliest civilization.
Current exhibit includes:
Shabti, Third Intermediate Period, 11th–7th century BC (Gift of the University of Pennsylvania)
Book of the Dead, Excavated at Memphis, Egypt, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period, ca. 644–30 BC (Gift of the University of Pennsylvania)
Mummy Shroud of Padiinher, Excavated in Lower Egypt, Roman period, ca. 1st century
Figures on Horseback, 2nd millennium BC
Musician, 18th–17th century BC
Battle Axe, Excavated in Luristan, Iran, Late 2nd–early 1st millennium BC
Whetstone with Handle, Excavated in Luristan, Iran, Late 2nd–early 1st millennium BC
Belt Ornament, Iron Age, early 1st millennium BC
Orange Ware Rhyton in Shape of a Goat's Head, Achaemenid period, 6th–5th century BC
Jar with Two Handles, Roman period, 2nd century (Gift of Mr. Momose Osamu and Mrs. Momose Fumiko)
Preaching Buddha, Kushan dynasty, 3rd century
Sculptures from India and Gandhara
2nd floor Room 3
June 26, 2018 (Tue) - June 23, 2019 (Sun)
This part mainly features Buddhist statues from Gandhara (northwestern Pakistan) and Mathura (northern, central India) from the 2nd to the 5th century. The wide variety of sculptures on display is a notable feature.
Current exhibit includes:
Seated Buddha, Kushan dynasty, 2nd–3rd century
Worship of the Bowl; Cross-legged Bodhisattvas, 3rd–4th century (Gift of Ms. Yano Tsuruko)
Preaching Buddha, Kushan dynasty, 3rd century
Fragment of Relief Sculpture: Yakshini, Kushan dynasty, 2nd–3rd century (Gift of Mr. Kato Hiroshi)
Seated Buddha (detail), Cave 45, Kumtura Caves, China, German Turfan collection, Tang dynasty, 8th century
Art of the Western Regions
2nd floor Room 3
February 5, 2019 (Tue) - March 17, 2019 (Sun)
This part introduces art of the Western Regions (Central Asia) from about the 1st to the 10th century, with a focus on Buddhist art. The highlight of this part is the rich variety of works with high artistic and historical significance.
Current exhibit includes:
Fragment of a Worshipper, Karasahr, China, Otani collection, Tang dynasty, 8th-9th century
Segments of Preaching Buddha, Kizil Caves, China, Otani collection, 7th century
Seated Buddha, Cave 45, Kumtura Caves, China, German Turfan collection, Tang dynasty, 8th century
3rd floor
Carved Stone Monster, Attributed provenance: Yinxu, Anyang, Henan province, China, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th century BC
The Advent of Chinese Civilization
3rd floor Room 4
February 13, 2019 (Wed) - June 2, 2019 (Sun)
This section focuses on pottery and jade objects from about 3000 BC to AD 200. The items on display present the beauty that ancient Chinese people pursued in the form and color of pottery, as well as the characteristic luster of jade.
Current exhibit includes:
Oracle Bones, Excavated at Yinxu, Anyang, Henan province, China, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th century BC
Jade Axe, China, Neolithic period, 3rd millennium BC
Carved Stone Monster, Attributed provenance: Yinxu, Anyang, Henan province, China, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th century BC
Sword (detail), Spring and Autumn–Warring States period, 6th–5th century BC
Chinese Bronzes
3rd floor Room 5
November 20, 2018 (Tue) - April 14, 2019 (Sun)
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, Spring and Autumn–Warring States period, 6th–5th century BC
Bu Jar, Taotie design, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th century BC (Gift of Ms. Sakamoto Kiku)
Bo Bell, Coiling dragon design, Warring States period, 5th century BC (Gift of Ms. Sakamoto Kiku)
Ewer, White porcelain, Early Tang dynasty, 7th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Burials in China: Early White Porcelain: Its Birth and Development
3rd floor 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. White porcelain, which was the foundation for blue-and-white porcelain and overglaze-enamel wares, is well known today. However, re-tracing how it was born and developed reveals very unique circumstances. 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.
Bowl with Foliate Rim, Celadon glaze, Guan ware, China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Chinese Ceramics
3rd floor Room 5
January 2, 2019 (Wed) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
This part presents the changing expressions of Chinese ceramics from the 7th to the 19th century.
Current exhibit includes:
Bowl with Foliate Rim, Celadon glaze, Guan ware, China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Vase, Beishoku celadon glaze, Southern Song's Guan ware, China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century (Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokyo)
Large Vase in Shape of Gourd, Design in overglaze enamel and gold, Jingdezhen ware, China, Ming dynasty, 16th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Sakamoto Goro)
Large Dish, Light blue glaze with paired dragon design in white slip, Zhangzhou ware, China, Ming dynasty, 17th century (Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokyo)
Dish, Plum tree design in famille rose enamel, Jingdezhen ware, China, Qing dynasty, Yongzheng era (1723–35) (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Miniature Circular Inkstone, White porcelain, Sui–Tang dynasty, 7th century (Lent by the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, Tokyo)
Miniature Circular Inkstone, Green glaze, Sui–early Tang dynasty, 7th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Collar Decoration for Women's Court Dress, Design of phoenixes and peonies in embroidery on a blue ground (detail), China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century
Chinese Textiles: Auspicious Patterns in Chinese Textiles
3rd floor Room 5
December 18, 2018 (Tue) - March 3, 2019 (Sun)
In celebration of the Chinese New Year, we are displaying textiles decorated with auspicious patterns rich in history and tradition. Through the centuries, the people of China wished for good fortune such as wealth, prestige, the prosperity of one’s descendants, and harmony between husband and wife. They expressed these wishes visually through motifs such as dragons, phoenixes, various "treasures," and even bats, which are synonymous with "good fortune." They used these motifs in textiles, embroidering them onto clothing and other personal belongings to create a variety of auspicious patterns. Though they have ancient origins, these patterns are still adored and widely used today.
Current exhibit includes:
Rug, Design of dragons and flowers, China, Qing dynasty, 18th–19th century
Collar Decoration for Women's Court Dress, Design of phoenixes and peonies in embroidery on a blue ground, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century
4th floor
Stone Bas-relief, Procession of chariots / Building for ancestral rituals, From Xiaotangshan, Shandong province, China, Eastern Han dynasty, 1st–2nd century
Stone Relief Carvings of China
4th floor Room 7
April 10, 2018 (Tue) - March 31, 2019 (Sun)
In the 2nd century BC, Chinese tombs were not simply holes in the ground. They developed to have walls and ceilings, with a structure almost like underground mansions. Tombs also appeared that had shrines built above ground for the bereaved families to perform rituals. Particularly in Shandong province and southern Henan province, sturdy stone was favored for making the tombs and shrines, with the stone surfaces used for carving images. Many of these stone bas-reliefs were created until the second half of the 2nd century in the Eastern Han dynasty.
Current exhibit includes:
Stone Bas-relief, Procession of chariots / Building for ancestral rituals, From Xiaotangshan, Shandong province, China, Eastern Han dynasty, 1st–2nd century
Stone Bas-relief, Toad / Emperor Yu, etc., From Xiaotangshan, Shandong province, China, Eastern Han dynasty, 1st–2nd century
Stone Bas-relief, Building / Tinglan and the wooden doll, etc., From Xiaotangshan, Shandong province, China, Eastern Han dynasty, 1st–2nd century
Cultivating Orchids and Bamboos(detail), By Xu Gu, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u)
Chinese Painting: Modern and Contemporary Landscape Paintings
4th floor Room 8
February 13, 2019 (Wed) - March 31, 2019 (Sun)
In the second half of the 19th century, painters of the Shanghai school created works in fresh new styles and laid the foundations for the development of modern Chinese painting. These painters were centered on Shanghai, a city that had experienced economic growth after its port was opened to international trade by the foreign powers. When the Qing dynasty ended and the Republic of China was founded in 1912, art schools and organizations were established in China’s large cities. These artists, who had studied Western painting and Japanese painting, experimented with diverse styles. Some imitated the painting styles of past Chinese masters, while others took actual places of scenic beauty as their subject, yet in doing so, these artists continually produced Chinese landscape paintings that re-interpreted the genre. This room features modern and contemporary Chinese paintings, with a focus on landscape paintings.
Current exhibit includes:
Landscape after Jian Jiang, By Xu Gu (1821-96), China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Private collection)
Mountains in Early Spring after Huang Gong wang, By Lu Hui, China, Republic period, dated 1917 (Private collection)
Lake Shi, By Yuan Peiji, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1902 (Private collection)
Sea of Clouds Seen from Mt. Huang, By Huang Binhong, China, Republic period, 20th century (Private collection)
Record of the Creation of Wei Lingzang's Buddhist Statue (detail), Stele: Northern Wei dynasty, 5th century (Gift of Mr. Imaizumi Yusaku)
Chinese Painting: Vestiges of Wang Xizhi’s Style of Calligraphy; Developments up to the Tang Dynasty
4th floor 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. In the Southern dynasties, when the Song, Qi, Lian, and Chen dynasties rose and fell one after another, the sophisticated style of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi was passed down through the generations. Meanwhile, in the Northern dynasties, when the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, and Northern Zhou flourished and declined in succession, the classical style of calligraphy that was in use received influence from the Southern dynasties and gradually became more structured and magnificent. After the Sui dynasty unified the Northern and Southern dynasties, their calligraphic styles merged even further. This exhibition traces the process of how the beautiful and intellectual style of the Tang dynasty came into existence.
Table, Flower-and-butterfly design in mother-of-pearl inlay, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century
Chinese Literati
4th floor Room 8
January 2, 2019 (Wed) - March 3, 2019 (Sun)
Through the objects collected by Nakamura Fusetsu and Takashima Kikujiro, who created global collections from the Meiji and Taisho eras to the Showa era, visitors can glimpse the attraction and depth of Chinese calligraphy.
Current exhibit includes:
Table, Flower-and-butterfly design in mother-of-pearl inlay, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century
Five Characters for a Plaque in Running Script, By Liu Yong, Qing dynasty, dated 1802 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
5th floor
Tiered Covered Vessel, Flower-and-bird design in carved red lacquer, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century
Chinese Lacquerware
5th floor Room 9
November 27, 2018 (Tue) - February 17, 2019 (Sun)
This part introduces the various methods and designs in Chinese lacquerware. Lacquerware is a form of decorative art made by applying lacquer sap on vessels and utensils, a practice which developed widely in China, Japan, Korea, and the Southeast Asian regions, in techniques and designs unique to each area. China, in particular, has a history of lacquerware of as long as 7000 years.
Current exhibit includes:
Tiered Covered Vessel, Flower-and-bird design in carved red lacquer, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century
Hexagonal Tray, Design of bamboo, plum tree, and pine forming the character for "longevity" in carved colored lacquer, Ming dynasty, Jiajing era (1522–66)
Covered Vessel, Chinese character "Spring" with auspicious motifs designs in carved colored lacquer, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Candlesticks, Qing dynasty, Qianlong era (1736–95)
Decorative Art of the Qing Dynasty
5th floor Room 9
November 27, 2018 (Tue) - February 17, 2019 (Sun)
This part introduces the decorative art of the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912) in China, such as works of jade, cloisonne, glass, and bamboo. The items on display feature the beauty of fine technical skill and the sophisticated atmosphere of Qing-dynasty decorative art.
Current exhibit includes:
Candlesticks, Qing dynasty, Qianlong era (1736–95)
Pomegranate, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Kamiya Denbei)
Flower Holder, Pair of carps design, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Kamiya Denbei)
Epitaph of Choe Chungheon (detail), Goryeo dynasty, dated 1219
Polished Stone Tools and Metal Tools of Korea
5th floor Room 10
October 16, 2018 (Tue) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
This part highlights Korean polished stone tools and metal objects that had a great influence on Japan's Yayoi culture.
Current exhibit includes:
Crown, Attributed provenance: Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Gaya), 5th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Polished Stone Sickle, Excavated at Buyeo, Korea, Bronze Age, 10th-4th century BC (Gift of Mr. Sakenobu Kyokusho)
Bronze Dagger, Excavated at Ochon-ri, Pyongyang, Korea, Early Iron Age, 2nd century BC
Cooking Stove, From a set of grave goods, Excavated from Jeongbaek-ri Tomb 227, Pyongyang, Korea, Nangnang (Lelang), 2nd-3rd century (Gift of the Korea Historical Site Research Society)
Bronze Ornamental Fitting, With animals, Attributed provenance: Gyeongju, Korea, Early Iron Age-Proto Three Kingdoms period, 3rd-1st century BC (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Epitaph of Choe Chungheon, Goryeo dynasty, dated 1219
Earring, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 6th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
The Rises and Falls of Kings in Korea
5th floor Room 10
October 16, 2018 (Tue) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
This part features the prosperity of kings in the Three Kingdoms period (4th century–676) in Korea, through works including items of metalwork. The diverse designs of the objects are evidence of the prosperity of the kings.
Current exhibit includes:
Sword with Ring-shaped Pommel, With inscription, Korea, Three Kingdoms period, 5th century
Earring, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 6th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Headgear, With design in openwork, Attributed provenance: Changnyeong, Korea, Three Kingdoms period, 6th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Visored Helmet, Attributed provenance: Yeonsan-dong, Dongnae, Korea, Three Kingdoms period, 5th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Equestrian Figurine, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th–6th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Korean Ceramics
5th floor Room 10
October 16, 2018 (Tue) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
This part introduces Korean ceramics from the Proto–Three Kingdoms period (1st century BC–3rd century AD) to the Joseon dynasty(1392–1910).
Current exhibit includes:
Cylindrical Stand, Excavated from Yangsan Bubuchong Tomb, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), start of 6th century
Box, Celadon glaze with arabesque design in openwork, Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century (On exhibit from January 2, 2019)
Bowl, White porcelain, Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 11th century (Gift of Mr. Kudo Yoshiro)
Jar in Shape of Rice Bale, Buncheong ware; fish design in underglaze iron, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 15th–16th century (Private collection)
Jar, Landscape design in underglaze blue, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century
Equestrian Figurine, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th–6th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Clay Figurine Soft-shelled Turtle, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th–6th century
Transverse Flute, Korea, Unified Silla dynasty, 8th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Tea Bowl, Aoido type, known as "Toki ido," Korea, Joseon dynasty, 16th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)
Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, Three Kingdoms period, 7th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Buddhist Art of Korea
5th floor Room 10
November 20, 2018 (Tue) - May 6, 2019 (Mon)
This part features the essence of Korean Buddhist art.
Current exhibit includes:
BrickLotus flower and fierce god design, Excavated from Gyuam-myeon, Buyeo, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Baekje), 7th century
Standing Vairocana, Unified Silla-Goryeo dynasty, 9th–10th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, Three Kingdoms period, 7th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Standing Buddha, Unified Silla dynasty, 9th century
Glass Ewer, Attributed provenance: Yeonbaek, Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 11th–12th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Buddhist Temple Bell, Goryeo dynasty, dated 1107 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Nishiaraidaishi Sojiji, Tokyo)
Flowers and Birds, Korea, 19th-20th century
Art of the Joseon Dynasty
5th floor Room 10
December 11, 2018 (Tue) - March 3, 2019 (Sun)
This part features furnishings, costumes, and accessories from Korea in the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). While the costumes, furniture, tableware, and stationery each possessed individual beauty, their appeal was enhanced by their placement in living spaces.
Current exhibit includes:
Flowers and Birds, Korea, 19th-20th century
Wonsam (Formal dress for women), Floral arabesque patterns on figured gauze, Korea, 19th-20th century
Brush Stand, Lotus arabesque in openwork with designs in underglaze blue and red, Korea, 19th-20th century
Water Dropper, Landscape in underglaze blue, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 18th century (Gift of Mr. Tsukagoshi Masaaki)
Water Dropper, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama Keiji)
Dining Table, With curved "tiger legs", Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Basement
Standing Lokesvara, Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th–13th century
Khmer Sculpture
Basement Room 11
May 8, 2018 (Tue) - May 6, 2019 (Mon)
This section introduces sculptures from Khmer, with a focus on stone statues from the Angkor period (9th-13th century). The Tokyo National Museum collection of Khmer sculptures, which are distinguished in both quality and quantity, was acquired in 1944 through an exchange project with the research institute l'École francaise d'Extrême-Orient.
Current exhibit includes:
Garuda Riding on Naga (Snake deity), Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th–13th century
Standing Vishnu, Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th century
Buddha Seated on Naga (Snake deity), Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th century
Standing Lokesvara, Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th–13th century
Lintel, Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 10th century
Standing Buddha, Dvaravati period, 7th–8th century (Not on exhibit from September 4, 2018, to January 1, 2019)
Gilt Bronze Statues from Southeast Asia
Basement Room 12
May 8, 2018 (Tue) - May 6, 2019 (Mon)
This part focuses on Southeast Asian gilt bronze statues of gods and Buddhist deities from the 7th to 13th century. The statues are made using the lost-wax casting process, and therefore they have common qualities in their plasticity and smoothness of form.
Current exhibit includes:
Standing Buddha, Dvaravati period, 7th–8th century (Not on exhibit from September 4, 2018, to January 1, 2019)
Buddha Seated on a Pedestal, Central Java period, ca. 8th century
Seated Mahavairocana, Central Java period, 9th–10thcentury
Standing Deity Hanuman, Angkor period, 11th century (on exhibit from January 2, 2019)
Finial for a Shaft in the Shape of Naga, Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th century (Not on exhibit from September 4, 2018, to January 1, 2019)
Standing Buddha, Polonnaruwa period, 12th–13th century (Not on exhibit from September 4, 2018, to January 1, 2019)
Shiva (Upper body), Excavated from Damdek, Cambodia, Angkor period, 9th century (Not on exhibit from September 4, 2018, to January 1, 2019)
Bronze Drum, Northern Thailand, 15th–17th century (Gift of Prince Damrong, Thailand)
Archaeology of India and Southeast Asia
Basement Room 12
January 2, 2019 (Wed) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
The excavated pottery and metal wares exhibited in this part clearly show the prosperity of cultures with rich regional characteristics in ancient India and Southeast Asia.
Current exhibit includes:
Human-shaped Object, Attributed provenance: Uttar Pradesh, India, Copper Hoard culture, ca. 1500 BC
Bronze Drum, Attributed provenance: northern Thailand, 6th–5th century BC (Lent by Idemitsu Museum of Arts)
Bronze Drum, Northern Thailand, 15th–17th century (Gift of Prince Damrong, Thailand)
Covered Bowl, Excavated at Angkor, Angkor period, 12th–14th century (Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient)
Southeast Asian Ceramics
Basement Room 12
January 2, 2019 (Wed) - September 1, 2019 (Sun)
This part introduces the individual styles of ceramics made in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam from the 9th to the 16th century.
Current exhibit includes:
Spittoon, Excavated at Angkor, Angkor period, 12th–14th century (Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient)
Covered Bowl, Excavated at Angkor, Angkor period, 12th–14th century (Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient)
Vase, Dark brown glaze with incised design, Excavated at Angkor, Angkor period, 12th–13th century (Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient)
Elephant-shaped Vessel, Dark brown glaze, Angkor period, 12th–13th century
Shallow Bowl, Celadon glaze, Northern Thai ware, Thailand, 15th century (Gift of Mr. Yoshioka Ken)
Shallow Bowl with Pointed Foliate Rim, Celadon glaze with lotus flower design, Si Satchanalai ware, Thailand, 15th century (Gift of Mr. Yamada Yoshio)
Bowl, Celadon glaze with fish and flowering plant design in underglaze iron pigment, Si Satchanalai ware, Thailand, 15th–16th century (Gift of Mr. Yamada Yoshio)
Bowl, Arabesque design in overglaze enamel, Formerly owned by Okano Shigezo, 16th century (Important Art Object)
Dish with Foliated Rim, Flowering plant design in overglaze enamel, 15th–16th century (Private collection)
Large Dish, Deer and landscape design in underglaze blue, 15th–16th century (Important Art Object)
Large Dish Water buffalo design in overglaze enamel, 16th century
Rug, Tapestry weave; interlocking lozenge and geometric pattern design on red ground (detail), Iraq, First half of 20th century
Asian Textiles: Textiles of Nomadic People from Asia
Basement Room 13
December 18, 2018 (Tue) - March 3, 2019 (Sun)
These textiles were collected by Ms. Matsushima Kiyoe, a researcher of nomadic peoples who was passionate about the nomads of West Asia. She collected these items in West Asia from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Current exhibit includes:
Rug, Tapestry weave; interlocking lozenge and geometric pattern design on red ground, Iraq, First half of 20th century
Fragment of Piled Bag, Soumak weaving; flower, bird, animal, and geometric pattern design, Lori people, Iran, First half of 20th century
Rug, Tapestry weave; nested lozenge and geometric pattern design, Kurd people, Iran, Early 20th century
Fragment of Piled Bag, Soumak weaving; stripe, deer, and geometric pattern design, Bakhtiari people, Iran, First half of 20th century
Ladies Enjoying Music by Riverbank(detail), By Murshidabad school, India, 18th century
Indian Miniature Paintings
Basement Room 13
February 13, 2019 (Wed) - March 10, 2019 (Sun)
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:
Quarreling Man and Woman, By Malwa school, India, Second half of 17th century
Royal Lady Looking in Mirror and Applying Makeup, By Malwa school, India, Early 18th century
Sword (detail), Southern Taiwan, Second half of 19th-first half of 20th century
Ethnic Cultures of Asia: Wood Sculpture of the Payuan Indigenous People of Taiwan
Basement Room 13
February 5, 2019 (Tue) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
aiwan s population consists not only of Han Chinese, who originally came from the mainland, but also of 16 indigenous tribes. Of these tribes, the Payuan people based in southern Taiwan are divided into two social classes: the noble class, or the class of chieftains, and the class of villagers. People in both classes have long worshiped their respective ancestors. This exhibition shows wooden artifacts that were used mainly by the noble class at festivals and ceremonies. Patterns on the surfaces of these objects represent a sense of admiration and awe towards ancestral spirits. In particular, the patterns with motifs such as of human gures and snakes, which typically are symbolic of ancestral spirits of the noble class, constitute an important element characteristic of wood sculpture created by the Payuan people. This exhibition sheds light on two-dimensional yet lively depictions of ancestral spirits on various pieces of wood sculpture.
Current exhibit includes:
Seat with Human Face, Pingtung County, Taiwan, Second half of 19th–early 20th century
Connected Cups, Majia-xiang, Pingtung County, Taiwan, Second half of 19th–early 20th century
Sword, Southern Taiwan, Second half of 19th-first half of 20th century