New Year's Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum Sensational Snakes from Japan and Beyond
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Articulated Snake, By Muneyoshi, Shōwa era, 20th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Rooms T1 & T2
January 2, 2025 (Thu) - January 26, 2025 (Sun)Happy New Year! 2025 is the Year of the Snake, the sixth symbol in the Japanese zodiac. Snakes are familiar to many people around the world, yet their wide mouths and slithering movements can still surprise us.
Since ancient times, these creatures have been associated with mysterious powers due to their ability to shed their skin and, in some cases, their venomous bite. This exhibition showcases depictions of snakes from various times and places, revealing the diverse qualities people have found in them — beauty, power, fascination, and even cuteness.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | The Buddha Seated on a Nāga | Found in Lopburi, Thailand | Angkor period, 12th–13th century | TC-73 | |||
| Highlight | Ancestor Spirit | Paiwan people, Taiwan | 20th century | TK-3536 | |||
| Highlight | Snake-Shaped Container | Excavated in eastern Mediterranean region | 4th–5th century | Private collection | |||
| Highlight | Articulated Snake | By Muneyoshi | Shōwa era, 20th century | E-20003 | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | The Snake General, One of the Twelve Divine Generals | Passed down at Jōruriji Temple, Kyoto | Kamakura period, 13th century | C-1852 | ||
| Highlight | Important Art Object | Pheasant and Snake | By Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) | Edo period, 19th century | A-10569-690 | ||
| “The Ghost of the Sarayashiki Residence” from the Series "One Hundred Ghost Stories" | By Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) | Edo period, 19th century | A-10569-672 | ||||
| Important Cultural Property | Volume 3 of "Illustrated Origins of Kiyomizu Temple" | By Tosa Mitsunobu (1469–1523) | Muromachi period, 1517 | A-43-3 | |||
| Highlight | Noh Costume ("Surihaku") with Triangles | Edo period, 18th century | I-2876 | ||||
| Plaque with a Scene of the "Genjōraku" Dance | By Unno Shōmin (1844–1915) | Meiji era, 1893 | Gift of the Japanese Delegate's Office for the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, E-12757 |