The Arrival of Buddhism | 6th–8th century
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Incense Burner with a Weighted Handle in the Shape of a Chinese Lion, Nara period, 8th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 1
November 22, 2022 (Tue) - December 25, 2022 (Sun)Japan's leaders transformed their society by adopting Buddhism and other foreign cultures and practices. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha in ancient India around 500 BC. Later it spread throughout Asia and was introduced to Japan from the Korean Peninsula in the 6th century AD.
In the Asuka period (593–710), people from the Korean Peninsula brought advanced knowledge to Japan. They included monks, scholars, and artisans, who brought technology, scholarship, artistic traditions, and Buddhist teachings. Under the leadership of the emperor and powerful clans, Buddhism began to flourish as temples were built and sacred images created.
In the Nara period (710–794), Japan’s leaders emulated the Buddhist culture that was thriving in China. In the capital of Nara, the emperor oversaw the creation of a giant buddha sculpture at Tōdaiji Temple, the symbol of a state now unified under Buddhism. The sculptures, ritual tools, sacred texts, and other works on display illustrate these two periods of rapid change.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendant | Found on Mount Nachi, Wakayama | Asuka period, 7th century | Gift of Mr. Kitamata Tomeshirō and two others, E-14846 | ||||
| Highlight | Bodhisattva | Asuka period, 7th century | C-217 | ||||
| Highlight | Part of the "Flower Garland Sutra" (Called the "Burnt Sutra of Nigatsudō Hall") | Nara period, 8th century | Gift of Ms. Yanagisawa Keiso, B-3241 | ||||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Nested Set of Reliquaries | Found at Mishima Temple (nonextant), Osaka | Nara period, 8th century | Gift of Mr. Hirano Sutejirō and Mr. Ōta Jisaburō, E-14297 | ||
| Important Cultural Property | Eight Nested Bowls | Collection of Hōryūji Treasures | Nara period, 8th century | N-264 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Bowl | Nara period, 8th century | E-14284 | |||
| Incense Burner with a Weighted Handle in the Shape of a Chinese Lion | Nara period, 8th century | E-19927 |