Sculpture
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The Bodhisattva of Sunlight
Previously owned by Kinrinji Temple and Kōsanji Temple, Kyoto, Nara period, 8th century (Important Cultural Property)Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 11
July 8, 2025 (Tue) - September 28, 2025 (Sun)Japan has three main traditions of sculpture: Buddhist deities, Shinto deities, and portraits of people. Buddhism was introduced to Japan from the Korean Peninsula in the 6th century, together with sculptures of Buddhist deities. These sculptures were made primarily for worship. Making a sculpture was also an “act of spiritual merit” that would help one’s prayers to be answered.
In contrast, Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan. Since ancient times, people believed that Shinto deities dwell in natural features like mountains and rivers, and rarely depicted them as humanlike sculptures. Even when a Shinto shrine had a sculpture for worship, the priests usually kept it hidden from view out of respect.
Some portrait sculptures were also worshipped, as they showed deified monks or samurai. Others were made to remember the dead and pray for their salvation. This gallery features works mainly from the Heian (794–1192) and Kamakura (1192–1333) periods, when many of Japan’s most admired sculptures were created.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Guardian Gods | Heian period, 12th century | C-1892 | ||||
| Highlight | Buddhist Monk | China | Tang dynasty–Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, 9th–10th century | Sensōji Temple, Tokyo | |||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | The Bodhisattva of Sunlight | Previously owned by Kinrinji Temple and Kōsanji Temple, Kyoto | Nara period, 8th century | C-218 | ||
| Highlight | National Treasure | The Guardian God Kōmokuten, One of the Four Heavenly Kings | Heian period, 12th century | Lent by Jōruriji Temple, Kyoto |