The Arrival of Buddhism | 6th–8th century
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Mirror with Mythical Sea Beasts and Grapes, Found in Gojō City, Nara, Asuka–Nara period, 7th–8th century
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 1
April 15, 2025 (Tue) - July 6, 2025 (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 | ||
| Highlight | The Eleven-Headed Bodhisattva Kannon | Found on Mount Nachi, Wakayama | Asuka period, 7th century | Gift of Mr. Kitamata Tomeshirō and two others, E-14848 | |||
| Bodhisattva | Asuka period, 7th century | C-217 | |||||
| Highlight | Volume 15 of "Mūlasarvāstivāda Nuns Discipline" (One of the "Sutras of the First Day of the Fifth Month") | Nara period, 740 | B-1035-4 | On exhibit through May 25, 2025 | |||
| Highlight | Volume 48 of the "Discourse on the Stages of Yogic Practice" (Gyōshin's Votive Sutra) | Nara period, 767 | Lent by Enpukuji Temple, Chiba | On exhibit from May 27, 2025 | |||
| Highlight | National Treasure | Ritual Objects Used to Consecrate the Site of Kōfukuji Temple, Bowl | Found under the dais of the Main Hall of Kōfukuji Temple, Nara | Nara period, 8th century | E-14258 | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Eight Nested Bowls | Collection of Hōryūji Treasures | Nara period, 8th century | N-264 |