The Bodhisattva Fugen
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The Bodhisattva Fugen (detail), Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
April 11, 2023 (Tue) - May 7, 2023 (Sun)Fugen, a Buddhist god associated with wisdom, has been widely worshipped in Japan. Many paintings of him exist, but this one, created over 800 years ago, has an unrivaled delicacy and dreamlike atmosphere. It shows Fugen appearing on earth on his white elephant, with flowers miraculously falling from the sky.
This painting was retouched and repaired over the centuries. In a recent conservation project, the retouched areas were removed, bringing the painting closer to its original condition.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | The Bodhisattva Fugen | Heian period, 12th century | A-1 |