Man, God & Nature in the Ancient World: Masterpieces from The Al Thani Collection
Toyokan Room 3
November 6, 2019 (Wed) -
February 9, 2020 (Sun)
January 21, 2020 (Tue), Asian Gallery (Toyokan)
The galleries feature art and artifacts from regions including China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, India, and Egypt.
Toyokan
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Special Exhibitions
Head of a Royal Figure, Red jasper, c. 1473-1292 BC, Egypt
Man, God & Nature in the Ancient World: Masterpieces from The Al Thani Collection
Toyokan Room 3
November 6, 2019 (Wed) - February 9, 2020 (Sun)
How did people of ancient civilizations conceive and depict themselves, their gods, and the natural world? The artworks they produced reflect their beliefs and world views, providing us with insights into this question.
This exhibition presents 117 masterpieces from the collection assembled by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, a prince of the royal family of Qatar. Ancient civilizations across the world produced these magnificent artworks, which will be presented under the themes of “man,” “god,” and “nature.”
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)
3rd floor
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Art of the Western Regions
3rd floor Room 5
January 15, 2020 (Wed) -
February 24, 2020 (Mon)
Painted Pottery Jar with a Handle, Excavated in Gansu or Qinghai province, China, Majiayao culture, ca. 2,600–2,300 BC (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
The Advent of Chinese Civilization
3rd floor Room 4
October 8, 2019 (Tue) - February 9, 2020 (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:
Painted Pottery Jar with a Handle, Excavated in Gansu or Qinghai province, China, Majiayao culture, ca. 2,600–2,300 BC (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Bells, China, Warring States period, 5th–3rd century BC
Jar with a Hunting Scene, China, Western Han–Eastern Han dynasty, 1st century BC–1st century AD (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Blade Arrowheads, Excavated from Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, Neolithic period, ca. 7th-3rd millennium BC (Gift of Mr. Morita Toshiro)
Stone Spearhead, Excavated at Nanshanli, Lushunkou, Dalian city, Liaoning province, China, Neolithic period-Bronze Age, 2nd millennium BC (Gift of Ms. Sone Toshiko)
Jade Axe, China, Neolithic period, 3rd millennium BC
Roof Tile with an Animal Mask (Taotie), China, Warring States period (the state of Yan), 5th–4th century BC
Stemmed Cup with Handles, China, Western Han dynasty, 2nd–1st century BC
Chinese Bronzes
3rd floor Room 5
November 19, 2019 (Tue) - April 12, 2020 (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.
Camel, China, Northern Wei dynasty, 6th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Burials in China
3rd floor Room 5
October 22, 2019 (Tue) - March 1, 2020 (Sun)
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:
Tomb Guardian Animal, With pigment, China, Western Jin dynasty, 3rd–4th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Dish with a Lotus Flower, China, Southern Dynasties, 5th–6th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Round Jar, China, Sui dynasty–Tang dynasty, 7th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Camel, China, Northern Wei dynasty, 6th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Rabbit, China, Tang dynasty, 8th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
Tomb Guardian, Three-color glaze, China, Tang dynasty, 7th–8th century (Gift of Dr. Yokogawa Tamisuke)
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)
Chinese Ceramics
3rd floor Room 5
November 19, 2019 (Tue) - March 1, 2020 (Sun)
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)
Textile with Peonies and a PhoenixSatin-weave silk with needle looping and buttonhole-stitch embroidery (detail), China, Ming dynasty, 15th century
Chinese Textiles: Auspicious Patterns in Chinese Textiles
3rd floor Room 5
November 26, 2019 (Tue) - February 16, 2020 (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:
Embroidered Wall Hanging with Children, Qing dynasty, 18th–19th century
Textile with Peonies and a Phoenix, Satin-weave silk with needle looping and buttonhole-stitch embroidery, China, Ming dynasty, 15th century
Embroidered Women's Shoes for Bound Feet with Flowers and Bats, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Banner with a Standing Bodhisattva (china), Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China, Pelliot collection, Tang dynasty, 9th century, Acquired through exchange with the Guimet Museum
Art of the Western Regions
3rd floor Room 5
January 15, 2020 (Wed) - February 24, 2020 (Mon)
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:
Banner with a Standing Bodhisattva, Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China, Pelliot collection, Tang dynasty, 9th century, Acquired through exchange with the Guimet Museum
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.
The Thousand-Character Classic in Cursive Script (detail), By Wen Zhengming, Ming dynasty, 1545 Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u
Commemorating the 550th Birth Year of Wen Zhengming and his Era
4th floor Room 8
January 2, 2020 (Thu) - March 1, 2020 (Sun)
Wen Zhengming (1470–1559) was a prominent painter and calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). He was born in Suzhou and became one of the leading members of the Wu School, a group of scholars who viewed their artworks as vehicles for personal expression. Wen initially was a poor calligrapher, who failed the imperial examinations on multiple occasions. However, he tirelessly pursued both art and scholarship, and his talents eventually blossomed. His refined painting and calligraphy rooted in the classics gained many followers in his lifetime, and exerted a tremendous influence on later generations. In this exhibition we are commemorating Wen’s 550th birthday with his painting and calligraphy.
5th floor
Tray with Pommel Scrolls (detail), Southern Song dynasty, 12th–13th century
Chinese Lacquerware
5th floor Room 9
January 21, 2020 (Tue) - April 12, 2020 (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.
Cup with Figures in a Landscape, Qing dynasty, 18th century
Decorative Art of the Qing Dynasty
5th floor Room 9
January 21, 2020 (Tue) - April 12, 2020 (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.
Model of a Cooking Stove, Reportedly found at Nangnang (Lelang) Tomb, Korea, Nangnang (Lelang), 1st-3rd century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Polished Stone Tools and Metal Tools of Korea
5th floor Room 10
October 22, 2019 (Tue) - April 19, 2020 (Sun)
This part highlights Korean polished stone tools and metal objects that had a great influence on Japan's Yayoi culture.
Visored Helmet, Reportedly found at Yeonsan-dong, Dongnae, Korea, Three Kingdoms period, 5th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
The Rises and Falls of Kings in Korea
5th floor Room 10
October 22, 2019 (Tue) - April 19, 2020 (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.
Dish with Pointed Foliate Rim and Stylized Tortoiseshell Design, Korea, Joseon dynasty, dated 1839 (Gift of Mr. Mayuyama Junkichi)
Korean Ceramics
5th floor Room 10
October 22, 2019 (Tue) - April 19, 2020 (Sun)
This part introduces Korean ceramics from the Proto–Three Kingdoms period (1st century BC–3rd century AD) to the Joseon dynasty(1392–1910).
Ewer and Bowl, Reportedly found at Yeonbaek, Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 11th–12th century (Gift of the Ogura Foundation)
Buddhist Art of Korea
5th floor Room 10
October 22, 2019 (Tue) - April 12, 2020 (Sun)
This part features the essence of Korean Buddhist art.
Brush Stand, Joseon dynasty, 19th–20th century
Art of the Joseon Dynasty
5th floor Room 10
November 12, 2019 (Tue) - February 2, 2020 (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:
Album of Bamboo Painting, By Sumun, Joseon dynasty, dated 1424 (Important Cultural Property, Private collection)
Cat, Attributed to Mao Yi, Joseon dynasty, 17th century
Brush Stand, Joseon dynasty, 19th–20th century
Water Dropper, Landscape in underglaze blue, Joseon dynasty, 18th century (Gift of Mr. Tsukagoshi Masaaki)
Box with Peony Vines, Joseon dynasty, 17th century (Gift of Mrs. Yamamoto Haruko)
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.
Large Dish, Fish and water plant design in underglaze blue, 15th–16th century (Important Art Object)
Southeast Asian Ceramics
Basement Room 12
January 7, 2020 (Tue) - May 10, 2020 (Sun)
This part introduces the individual styles of ceramics made in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam from the 9th to the 16th century.
Fragment of Bag with Cats, Figures, and Geometric PatternsSoumak weave (pile) (detail), Lori people, Iran, Early 20th century (Gift of Mr. Konishi Akito)
Asian Textiles: Textiles of Nomadic People from Asia
Basement Room 13
November 26, 2019 (Tue) - February 16, 2020 (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:
Fragment of Bag with Cats, Figures, and Geometric Patterns, Soumak weave (pile), Lori people, Iran, Early 20th century (Gift of Mr. Konishi Akito)
Prayer Rug with Mihrab (Prayer Niche) and Floral Geometric Patterns, Tapestry weave, Turkey, Early 20th century
Monkey Sitting on Top of a Pile of Rocks (detail), By the Bikaner school, Late 17th–early 18th century
Indian Miniature Paintings
Basement Room 13
January 21, 2020 (Tue) - February 16, 2020 (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:
Monkey Sitting on Top of a Pile of Rocks, By the Bikaner school, Late 17th–early 18th century
Tapa (Bark cloth) Beater, Hawaii, Polynesia, Early 20th century (Gift of Mr. Kuboki Takeo)
Ethnic Cultures of Asia: Tools for Daily Life from the South Pacific
Basement Room 13
November 19, 2019 (Tue) - February 16, 2020 (Sun)
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