Mural Paintings of the Kitora Tumulus
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White Tiger, of the Four Divine Animals,Mural Paintings from Kitora Tumulus: West Wall,Asuka period, 7th-8th century (Lent by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room T5
April 22, 2014 (Tue) - May 18, 2014 (Sun)Richly colored mural paintings from the Kitora tumulus (Asuka village, Nara prefecture; end of 7th-beginning of 8th century) will be specially exhibited at the Tokyo National Museum. The tumulus is designated as a special historic site. Out of the Four Gods ruling over the four directions, painted images of three of them―the white tiger, the black tortoise, and the vermilion bird―will be on exhibit. Also on display are painted images of two human figures with the heads of animals―the Rat and the Ox―from the twelve animals of the zodiac. This is a precious opportunity to view these paintings, which are being shown outside the village for the first time since their discovery in 1983.