New Year’s Greetings from the Birds
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Cockerel and Bamboo (detail), By Luo Chuang, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Rooms T1 & T2
January 2, 2017 (Mon) - January 29, 2017 (Sun)With this year being the Year of the Rooster, or the Year of the Bird, according to the Chinese zodiac, this exhibition showcases artworks featuring birds under the two themes of “Birds of Dawn” and “Birds of Celebration.”
The first theme, “Birds of Dawn,” highlights roosters. The bird of the Chinese zodiac usually takes the form of a rooster. Roosters, which report daybreak, have been domestic fowl familiar to people since long ago, while they have also been seen in pastimes involving roosters such as cockfights. The exhibits in this section include works featuring roosters as motifs as well as those showing the relationship between roosters and people.
The second theme, “Birds of Celebration,” presents birds that bring happiness. The birds featured in these artworks include those with auspicious associations, such as hawks, peacocks, cranes, herons, and mandarin ducks, as well as imaginary birds that also bring good fortune such as phoenixes and garudas.
Current exhibit includes:
Fowl, By Soga Chokuan (dates unknown), Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Hokiin, Wakayama)
Cockerel and Bamboo, By Luo Chuang (dates unknown), Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)
Fowl with Pine and Plum, By Ito Jakuchu, Edo period, 18th century
The Illustrated Album of Old Courtly Customs: Watching a Cockfight, Meiji era, 19th century
Flowers and Birds, By Kaiho Yusetsu, Edo period, 17th century
Bugaku Mask, Korobase type, Heian period, dated 1042 (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Tamukeyama Hachimangu, Nara)
Hoken Style Sword Mounting, Paulownia, bamboo, and phoenix design in maki-e lacquer on nashiji lacquer ground, Metal fittings by Ichijo, Edo period, dated 1864