Walking with Ippen: Sacred Sites and Faith as Seen in the Illustrated Biography of Priest Ippen
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Illustrated Biography of Priest Ippen, Vol. 7 (detail), By Priest En’i, Kamakura period, dated 1299 (National Treasure)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Rooms T1 & T2
November 3, 2015 (Tue) - December 13, 2015 (Sun)Ippen (1239–1289), the founder of the Ji sect of Buddhism, made pilgrimages to various Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and other sacred places throughout Japan. The National Treasure, Illustrated Biography of Priest Ippen, was created on the 10th anniversary of his death in 1299. A picture scroll that recounts his life, it shows the magnificent sceneries of the sacred places he visited.
With volume seven of the Illustrated Biography of Priest Ippen and copies of this biography by Kano school painters of the Edo period (1603–1868) as invaluable references, this exhibition introduces the sacred places Ippen visited as well as paintings, sculptures, and archeological artifacts related to the faith of these places.
Current exhibit includes:
Illustrated Biography of Priest Ippen, Vol. 7, By Priest En’i, Kamakura period, dated 1299 (National Treasure)
Illustrated Biography of Itinerant Priests, Vol. 2, Kamakura period, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Tanaka Shinbi)
Niga byakudo (White path of Buddhist faith between two rivers of temptations), Kamakura period, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Komyo-ji, Kyoto)
Standing Amida Nyorai (Amitabha) and Two Attendants, Kamakura period, dated 1254 (Important Cultural Property)
Letter, By Ta'a, Nanbokucho period, dated 1333 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Kondaiji, Nagano)
Illustrated Scroll of Legends about the Origin of Inabado Temple and Its Yakushi Nyorai Statue, Kamakura period, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine Mandala, Kamakura period, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by the OKURA MUSEUM OF ART, Tokyo)
Container for Sutra Case, Excavated from Kumano Hongu Taisha sutra mound, Sonaezaki, Hongu-cho, Tanabe-shi, Wakayama, Heian period, dated 1121