Chinese Painting: The Breadth of Religious Painting
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Sixteen Arhats (detail), By Cai Shan, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
July 31, 2018 (Tue) - August 26, 2018 (Sun)In China, Taoism and Buddhism, as well as other religions, attracted a large number of followers. Each religion produced paintings in various styles to attract different kinds of people. This exhibition introduces, for the first time at the Tokyo National Museum, paintings of Manichaeism, which originated in the Sassanian Empire, spread over the Eurasian Continent, and reached China. Contemporaneous Taoist and Buddhist paintings, as well as their subsequent developments, are also presented. This exhibition provides an overview of Chinese religious painting, allowing visitors to experience its breadth and variety.
Current exhibit includes:
Legends of Mani, Yuan–Ming dynasty, 14th century (Private collection)
Sixteen Arhats, By Zhao Qiong, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Hokekyoji, Chiba)
Sixteen Arhats, By Cai Shan, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Cultural Property)
Arhat, Attributed to Chan Yue, Yuan dynasty, 14th century (Important Art Object)