Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
1st floor Room 1
April 9, 2019 (Tue) -
April 12, 2020 (Sun)
April 16, 2019 (Tue), Asian Gallery (Toyokan)
The galleries feature art and artifacts from regions including China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, India, and Egypt.
1st floor
Standing Avalokitesvara, China, Northern Wei dynasty, dated 524
Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
1st floor Room 1
April 9, 2019 (Tue) - April 12, 2020 (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.
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 2, 2019 (Tue) - March 15, 2020 (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)
Glazed Tiles, Northwestern Iran, Iron Age, 8th-7th century BC
Artifacts from West Asia and Egypt
2nd floor Room 3
April 9, 2019 (Tue) - June 30, 2019 (Sun)
This part intrduces artifacts from West Asia and Egypt, known as the cradle of the earliest civilization.
Current exhibit includes:
Jar with Wavy Handles, Egypt, Predynastic period, 4th millennium BC (Gift of Mr. B. Dean)
Black-topped Vessel, Egypt, Predynastic period, 4th millennium BC (Gift of Mr. B. Dean)
Tomb Relief of Iny, Excavated at Saqqara, Egypt, Old Kingdom 6th dynasty, ca. 23rd century BC
Model Boat, Upper Egypt, Middle Kingdom, ca. 2025-1794 BC
Copper or Bronze Sword, Excavated in Syria, Sumerian Early Dynastic period, 3rd millennium BC
Pin, Excavated in Syria, Sumerian Early Dynastic period, 3rd millennium BC
Cuneiform Text on Clay Cone, Excavated in Iraq, Gutian period, 22nd century BC (Gift of Iraqi Government)
Plain Bowl, Excavated at Tell Taya, Iraq, Akkadian period, ca. 2300 BC (Gift of Iraqi Government)
Battle Axe, Excavated in Luristan, Iran, Late 2nd?early 1st millennium BC
Belt Ornament, Eastern Turkey or Transcaucasia, Iron Age, early 1st millennium BC
Glazed Tiles, Northwestern Iran, Iron Age, 8th-7th century BC
Amphoriskos, Excavated in Iraq or Syria, Ca. 15th-14th century BC (Private collection)
Pyxis with Gold Ornamentation, Excavated in Alexandria, Egypt or Italy, 1st century BC-1st century AD (Private collection)
Heracles, Excavated at Hatra, Iraq, Parthian period, 1st-2nd century, Gift of the Iraqi Government
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)
Warrior Tomb Figur, Astana Karakhoja Tombs, China, Otani collection, Tang dynasty, 8th century
Art of the Western Regions
2nd floor Room 3
March 19, 2019 (Tue) - April 21, 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:
Head of a Female Tomb Figur, Astana Karakhoja Tombs, China, Otani collection, Tang dynasty, 8th century
Head of a Male Tomb Figur, Astana Karakhoja Tombs, China, Otani collection, Tang dynasty, 8th century
Warrior Tomb Figur, Astana Karakhoja Tombs, China, Otani 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
MirrorDesign of animal mask with the inscribed date “Yanxi 7”, China, Purportedly excavated from a tumulus near Pyongyang, Korea, Eastern Han dynasty, dated 164
Chinese Bronzes
3rd floor Room 5
April 16, 2019 (Tue) - July 15, 2019 (Mon)
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:
MirrorDesign of animal mask with the inscribed date “Yanxi 7”, China, Purportedly excavated from a tumulus near Pyongyang, Korea, Eastern Han dynasty, dated 164
Sword, Spring and Autumn-Warring States period, 6th–5th century BC
Decorative Plaque in Shape of a Mirror, Spring and Autumn–Warring States period, 6th–4th century BC
Bronze Ge Halberd, China, Shizhaishan culture, 3rd–2nd century BC, Gift of Mr. Sugiyama Sadatoshi
Ding Cooking Vessel Taotie design, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th century BC
Bu JarTaotie design, Shang dynasty, 13th–11th 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)
Album of Antique Textiles (detail), China, Yuan–Ming dynasty, 13th–17th century
Chinese Textiles: Albums of Ancient Textiles
3rd floor Room 5
March 5, 2019 (Tue) - June 2, 2019 (Sun)
Rare textiles from China, India, and other regions were prized in Japan. They were regarded so highly that during the Edo period (1603–1868), feudal lords and wealthy townspeople who practiced the tea ceremony preserved fragments of these textiles in albums. Each fragment would be given a label and the album bound with the utmost care to be passed down to future generations. In this exhibit, we invite you to explore these small yet magnificent albums, which were viewed with reverence by tea practitioners through the ages.
Current exhibit includes:
Album of Antique Textiles, China, Yuan–Ming dynasty, 13th–17th century
Album of Antique Textiles, China, Ming–Qing dynasty, 17th–18th 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 2, 2019 (Tue) - April 5, 2020 (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.
Landscape (detail), By Li Zai, Ming dynasty, 15th century (Important Cultural Property)
Chinese Painting: The World of Ming-dynasty Court Painting
4th floor Room 8
April 2, 2019 (Tue) - May 12, 2019 (Sun)
The Ming-dynasty Imperial Court Academy was established in the Xuande era (1426–35), Chenghua era (1465–87), and Hongzhi era (1488–1505). Li Zai, who was a landscape painter in the Xuande era, Lu Ji, who was a bird-and-flower painter in the Hongzhi era, and other members of the academy were painters that were also well-known in Japan. Their styles of painting owed much to their studies of the classic works of the Song dynasty. They reconstructed these classics in simpler ways on large canvases with a more daring and sumptuous use of brushwork and color. This exhibition introduces a history of Chinese court painting that conveys the splendor of the Ming dynasty.
Current exhibit includes:
Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons, By Lu Ji, Ming dynasty, 15th–16th century (Important Cultural Property)
Landscape, By Li Zai, Ming dynasty, 15th century (Important Cultural Property)
Solitary Angler on a Wintry River, By Zhu Duan, Ming dynasty, 16th century (Important Cultural Property)
Seeking Blossoms, By Shi Rui (mid–15th century), Ming dynasty, 15th century (Important Cultural Property, Private collection)
Poems by Wang Wei in Cursive Script (detail), By Zhang Ruitu, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century
Chinese Calligraphy: Calligraphy of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
4th floor Room 8
March 5, 2019 (Tue) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
Calligraphy of the Chinese Ming dynasty (1368-1644) was based on the calligraphic techniques of the Eastern Jin dynasty and the Tang dynasty. In the 16th century, Wen Zhengming was active in Wu (now Suzhou, Jiangsu province), creating elegant calligraphy with its roots in the classics. In 17th-century Songjiang (now Songjiang district, Shanghai), Dong Qichang advocated a vibrant calligraphic style in a break from tradition. This style was carried on by Huang Daozhou, Wang Duo and other calligraphers at the end of the Ming dynasty. During the Qing dynasty (1616-1911), which was governed by the Manchu people, mainstream calligraphy shifted its focus from studying from copybooks of classic calligraphy to studying from inscriptions on stone steles and monuments. This exhibition introduces the varied calligraphic styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Current exhibit includes:
Poems by Wang Wei in Cursive Script, By Zhang Ruitu, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century
Poems in Running Script Presented to Manshi, By Ruan Yuan, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century, China (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Quatrain in Seven-character Phrases in Cursive Script, By Huang Daozhou, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u)
Inscription on the Paintings of Nine Aged Men in Standard Script, By Jin Nong, China, Qing dynasty, 17th–18th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u)
Transcription of Shiguwen, By Wu Changshuo, Republic period, dated 1917 (Gift of Dr. Hayashi Munetake)
Display Shelf for Writing Tools and Materials, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)
Chinese Literati
4th floor Room 8
March 5, 2019 (Tue) - April 21, 2019 (Sun)
The literati were people who devoted themselves to reading, calligraphy, painting, and other fine arts. In China, their way of life was traditionally held as an ideal. This exhibit recreates the studies of literati, where calligraphy and painting of China were born.
Current exhibit includes:
Display Shelf for Writing Tools and Materials, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)
Four Characters for a Plaque in Clerical Script, By Wu Xizai, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
5th floor
Tray, Saihi type with design in xipi lacquer, China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th-13th century (Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Sackler)
Chinese Lacquerwar
5th floor Room 9
February 19, 2019 (Tue) - May 12, 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:
Tray, Saihi type with design in xipi lacquer, China, Southern Song dynasty, 12th-13th century (Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Sackler)
Rectangular Tray, Dragon design in colored lacquer and gold inlay, China, Ming dynasty, dated 1585 (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)
Sutra Box, Peacock design in gilded hairline engraving, ChinaYuan dynasty, dated 1315 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Komyobo temple, Hiroshima)
Libation Cup, Landscape and figure design, China, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Decorative Art of the Qing Dynasty
5th floor Room 9
February 19, 2019 (Tue) - May 12, 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:
Libation Cup, Landscape and figure design, China, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Wooden Bowl, Design of seven carved Buddhist statues, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1788
Incense Burner in Shape of Ding Cooking Vessel, With peony and lion decorations, China, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century
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)
Brush Stand, Lotus arabesque in openwork with designs in underglaze blue and red, Korea, 19th–20th century
Art of the Joseon Dynasty
5th floor Room 10
March 5, 2019 (Tue) - May 26, 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:
Bandaji (Front-opening chest), Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Hanabusa Yoshimoto)
Two-tiered Cabinet, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
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)
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
Chintz with reversible design, Knot and interlocking check design on madder red ground (detail), Coromandel Coast, southern India, Early 18th century
Asian Textiles: Indian Textile
Basement Room 13
March 5, 2019 (Tue) - June 2, 2019 (Sun)
Various textiles and techniques were spread across Asia from India, such as cotton cloth, splashed-pattern dyeing, tie-dyeing and brocades with metal threads. In particular, chintz, which was cotton cloth dyed with floral patterns or legendary images using woodblock printing or hand-drawing, fascinated people around the world and was a major export from the 16th to the 19th century.
Current exhibit includes:
Chintz with reversible design, Knot and interlocking check design on madder red ground, Coromandel Coast, southern India, Early 18th century
Chintz Drape for Tent, Tree and flower design on white ground, India, Start of 17th century
Chintz, Vase, flower, and bird design on white ground, Coromandel Coast, South India, 17th–18th century
Chintz, Standing tree, bird, and beast design on white ground, Machilipatnam, South India, 19th century
Saints Around a Fire, By the Bikaner school, India, First half of 18th century
Indian Miniature Paintings
Basement Room 13
April 9, 2019 (Tue) - May 6, 2019 (Mon)
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:
Saints Around a Fire, By the Bikaner school, India, First half of 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