Chinese Buddhist Sculpture
1st floor Room 1
April 9, 2019 (Tue) -
April 12, 2020 (Sun)
May 17, 2019 (Fri), 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)
Head of Bodhisattva, Kumtura Caves, ChinaOtani collection, Tang dynasty, 7th–8th century
Art of the Western Regions
2nd floor Room 3
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - June 2, 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 Bodhisattva, Kumtura Caves, ChinaOtani collection, Tang dynasty, 7th–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
Woman, Three-color glaze, China, Tang dynasty, 8th century (Gift of Mr. Suzuki Eiichi)
Burials in China
3rd floor Room 5
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - July 15, 2019 (Mon)
This part introduces burial items of tombs from about the 2nd century BC to the 8th century AD. Mingqi are models of various implements and equipment, such as cooking stoves, vehicles including carriages and oxcarts, and even toilets. Tomb figures are models of humans who served a master, such as servants and entertainers. The objects on display present the idealized lifestyle that people of this time entrusted to mingqi and tomb figures.
Current exhibit includes:
Model of Well, Green glaze, China, Eastern Han dynasty, 2nd–3rd century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Ewer, Flower design; yellow glaze with applied ornaments in underglaze iron pigment, Changsha ware, China, Tang dynasty, 9th century (Private collection)
Bowl, Yellow glaze with design in underglaze green and iron pigment, Changsha ware, China, Attributed provenance: Iriomote-jima, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, Tang dynasty, 9th century (Private collection)
Woman, Three-color glaze, China, Tang dynasty, 8th century (Gift of Mr. Suzuki Eiichi)
Tomb Guardian, Three-color glaze, China, Tang dynasty, 7th–8th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Vase in Shape of Gu Bronze VesselCeladon glaze, Jingdezhen ware, Qing dynasty, Qianlong era (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)
The History of the Museum's Collection and Research of Chinese Celadon Porcelain
3rd floor Room 5
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - July 15, 2019 (Mon)
This thematic exhibition introduces the history of the collection and research of Chinese celadon porcelain at the Tokyo National Museum.
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.
Waterfall at Lushan (detail), By Yuan Yao, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1741 (Gift of Mr. Eda Yuji)
Chinese Painting: The Prosperity of Qing-dynasty Urban Culture –The Yuan School and the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou
4th floor Room 8
May 14, 2019 (Tue) - June 23, 2019 (Sun)
Yangzhou, located in central Jiangsu Province, prospered in the Qing dynasty as a center of trade for various goods, most notably salt. When the salt merchants, who made vast fortunes, committed themselves to the promotion of culture, a group of artists of the literati school gathered in Yangzhou to create works with refined yet light and breezy painting styles. They subsequently became known as the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou." Meanwhile, many large-scale landscape paintings were also produced to adorn the mansions of the wealthy merchants. These works were created by the Yuan school of professional painters. Through artworks by the Yuan school and the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou, this exhibition introduces the urban culture that blossomed during the Qing dynasty.
Current exhibit includes:
Waterfall at Lushan, By Yuan Yao, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1741 (Gift of Mr. Eda Yuji)
Figures and Landscape, By Huang Shen, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1727 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Willows in Autumn, By Huang Shen, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1735 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Writing after Wang Xizhi's Sixiang tie Copybook(detail), By Bao Shichen, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Chinese Calligraphy: Chidu Letters and Writings after Letters
4th floor Room 8
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - June 16, 2019 (Sun)
A chidu is a type of Chinese letter. In the Northern and Southern dynasty (439–589), the Southern-dynasty emperors revered the calligraphy of Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi (the Two Wangs), who were calligraphers in the Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420). The emperors collected letters and other documents written in refined running and cursive scripts, thus beginning the first stage of a history of calligraphy centered on the works of Wang Xizhi. From the Song dynasty (960–1279) onward, many copybooks of calligraphy were compiled, starting most notably with the calligraphy compendium, Chun hua ge tie (992), which focused on the calligraphy of the Two Wangs. Through these copybooks, the letters of the Two Wangs and other calligraphers have been appreciated and used as model calligraphy up to the present day. This exhibition features chidu letters from the Song dynasty to the Qing dynasty, as well as Ming- and Qing-dynasty examples of writings after letters in copybooks.
Exhibit includes:
Letters in Cursive Script, By Wen Xin, Ming dynasty, dated 1368 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Letter to Wang Shen, By Zhao Lingzhi, Northern Song dynasty, 11th–12th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Letters in Cursive Script, By Zhu Xi, Southern Song dynasty, 12th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Writing after a Letter of Liu Gongquan, By Wang Duo, Ming dynasty, dated 1647 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Writing after Calligraphy by Wang Xizhi, By Fushan, Qing dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Writing after Wang Xizhi's Sixiang tie Copybook, By Bao Shichen, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Inkstone with Hollow UndersideOrchid Pavilion design, Formerly owned by Mr. Aoyama San'u, Ming dynasty, 14th–17th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama Keiji)
Chinese Literati
4th floor Room 8
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - June 16, 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:
Inkstone with Hollow UndersideOrchid Pavilion design, Formerly owned by Mr. Aoyama San'u, Ming dynasty, 14th–17th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama Keiji)
Five Characters for Plaque in Clerical Script, By Yi Bingshou, Qing dynasty, dated 1812 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
5th floor
Tray with Pointed Foliate Rim, Dragon and wave design in mother-of-pearl inlay, China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
Chinese Lacquerwar
5th floor Room 9
May 14, 2019 (Tue) - August 4, 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:
Spittoon with Pointed Foliate Rim, Red lacquer, China, Southern Song-Yuan dynasty, 13th-14th century
Tray with Pointed Foliate Rim, Dragon and wave design in mother-of-pearl inlay, China, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
You Wine Container, Taotie design, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Kamiya Denbei)
Decorative Art of the Qing Dynasty
5th floor Room 9
May 14, 2019 (Tue) - August 4, 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:
You Wine Container, Taotie design, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Kamiya Denbei)
Pomegranate, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Kamiya Denbei)
Inkstone, Formerly owned by Mr. Aoyama San'u, China, Qing dynasty, 17th-19th century (Gift of Ms. Yamano Yoshik)
Crown, Attributed provenance: Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Gaya), 5th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Polished Stone Tools and Metal Tools of Korea
5th floor Room 10
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - October 20, 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
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)
Headgear, With design in openwork, Attributed provenance: Changnyeong, Korea, Three Kingdoms period, 6th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
The Rises and Falls of Kings in Korea
5th floor Room 10
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - October 20, 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:
Earring, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), Korea, 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)
Horse-shaped Vessel, Attributed provenance: Changnyeong, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Korean Ceramics
5th floor Room 10
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - October 20, 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
Vase, Celadon glaze with carved lotus arabesque design, Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 12th century
Jar in Shape of Rice BaleBuncheong ware; fish design in underglaze iron, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 15th–16th century (Private collection)
Beveled Jar, White porcelain, Joseon dynasty, Korea, 18th century (Private collection)
Jar, Crane and tortoise design in underglaze blue, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Equestrian Figurine, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th–6th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Transverse Flute, Unified Silla dynasty, Korea, 8th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Horse-shaped Vessel, Attributed provenance: Changnyeong, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Water Fowl-shaped Vessel, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Double-mouthed Vessel with Wheels, Attributed provenance: Changnyeong, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
House-shaped VesselStoneware, Three Kingdoms period (Silla), 5th–6th century (Important Art Object, Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
BowlCeladon glaze, Goryeo dynasty, Korea, 10th century
BowlWhite porcelain, Goryeo dynasty, Korea, 11th century (Gift of Mr. Kudo Yoshiro)
Round Eave Tile, Spoke and lotus flower design, Probably excavated from Pyeongyang, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Goguryeo), 4th–5th century
Buddhist Art of Korea
5th floor Room 10
May 8, 2019 (Wed) - October 20, 2019 (Sun)
This part features the essence of Korean Buddhist art.
Current exhibit includes:
Round Eave Tile, Spoke and lotus flower design, Probably excavated from Pyongyang, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Goguryeo), 4th–5th century
Round Eave Tile, Lotus flower design, Excavated at former site of Gunsu–ri temple, Buyeo, Korea, Three Kingdoms period (Baekje), 6th century
Ridge–end Tile, Demon face design, Excavated at former site of Sacheonwangsa temple, Gyeongju, Korea, Unified Silla dynasty, 7th–8th century
Ridge–end Tile, Demon face design; with green glaze, Excavated from Wolsong, Gyeongju, Korea, Unified Silla dynasty, 7th–8th 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 Bhaisajyaguru, Three Kingdoms period, 7th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
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
Lintel (detail), Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 10th century
Khmer Sculpture
Basement Room 11
May 8, 2019 (Wed) - May 10, 2020 (Sun)
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.
Finial for a Shaft in the Shape of Naga, Acquired through exchange with l'École française d'Extrême-Orient, Angkor period, 12th century
Gilt Bronze Statues from Southeast Asia
Basement Room 12
May 8, 2019 (Wed) - May 10, 2020 (Sun)
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.
Human-shaped Object, Attributed provenance: Uttar Pradesh, India, Copper Hoard culture, ca. 1500 BC
Archaeology of India and Southeast Asia
Basement Room 12
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - April 19, 2020 (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.
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
Mughal Emperor Akbar (detail), By the Bikaner school, 18th century
Indian Miniature Paintings
Basement Room 13
May 8, 2019 (Wed) - June 2, 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:
Mughal Emperor Akbar, By the Bikaner school, 18th century
Model of Fishing Boat, Second half of 19th-early 20th century
Ethnic Cultures of Asia: The Sea People of Taiwan: The Traditional Culture of the Tao
Basement Room 13
April 23, 2019 (Tue) - July 21, 2019 (Sun)
Orchid Island is situated off the southeastern coast of the main island of Taiwan. The ethnic group of Tao (Yami) people, who live on this island, are said to have come across the sea from the northern Philippines. This exhibit presents the prayers and wisdom of the Tao people who have lived together with the sea on their isolated island.
Current exhibit includes:
Model of Fishing Boat, Orchid Island, Taitung County, Taiwan, Second half of 19th-early 20th century
Armor, Taiwan, Second half of 19th–early 20th century (Gift of Mr. Yamato Iwataro)
Helmet, Taiwan, Second half of 19th–early 20th century (Gift of Mr. Yamato Iwataro)