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Honen and Shinran: Treasures Related to the Great Masters of the Kamakura Buddhism

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    Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries
    October 25, 2011 (Tue) - December 4, 2011 (Sun)

    Honen is known as the father of Kamakura Buddhism. Amid the turbulent times of the late Heian period at the end of the 12th century, he spread the belief that salvation could be achieved by reciting prayers to Buddha. Shinran, who learned under Honen, developed practices and philosophies reflecting the society of the early Kamakura period.
    2011 marks the 800th memorial year of Honen, the founder of the Jodo sect, and the 750th memorial of Shinran, who founded Jodo Shin sect. In this commemorative year, for the first time, this exhibition features the two foremost figures of Kamakura Buddhism will be introduced for the first time together in a special exhibition, which narrates their lives through related treasures.


    Left:Zenshin Shonin e (Illustrated Story of Master Zenshin [Shinran]), Rin'a edition Volumes 1(detail)
    Inscriptions by Kakunyo, Kamakura period, 14th century, Important Cultural Property, Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto
    (Volume 1 : on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)
    (Volume 2 : on exhibit from November 15 to December 4, 2011)

     

General Information
Period Tuesday, October 25 - Sunday, December 4, 2011
Venue Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30 - 17:00
Fridays until 20:00
(Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Mondays
Admission Adults: 1,500 (1,300/1,200) yen
University students: 1,200 (1,000/900) yen
High school students: 900 (700/600) yen
Junior high school students and under: Free
* Prices shown in ( ) indicate advance / group (more than 20 persons) discount tickets.
* Persons with disabilities are admitted free with one accompanying person each.
* Advance tickets are on sale at the Museum ticket office (during museum hours, 30 minutes before closing hour) and Ticket Pia (P-code:764-717), Lawson Ticket (L-code:39000), E-Plus, CN Playguide and other major ticketing agencies from Friday, September  9 to Monday, October 24, 2011.
*

Advance pair tickets (two admissions, 2000yen) are sold at Ticket Pia (P-code:764-718), Lawson Ticket (L-code:39000), E-Plus and other major ticketing agencies from Monday, August  8 to Friday, September 30, 2011.
Access 10 minutes' walk from JR Ueno Station (Park exit) and Uguisudani Station
15 minutes' walk from Keisei Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Nezu Station
Organizer Tokyo National Museum, NHK, NHK Promotions Inc., The Asahi Shimbun
With the Support of Agency for Cultural Affairs
With the Sponsorship of TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Nissha Printing Co., Ltd., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co.,Ltd.
With the special
assistance of		 Chion-in, Zojoji, Konkai komyoji, Chionji,Shojoke-in, Zendoji, Komyoji(kamakura), Zenkouji Daihongan, Komyoji(Nagaokakyo), Zenrinji, Seiganji, Yugyoji, Nishi Hongwanji, Higashi Honganji(Kyoto), Senjuji, Bukkoji, Koshoji, Kinshokuji, Goshoji, Joshoji, Sensyoji, Shojoji
General Inquiries 03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial)
Exhibition Website http://www.honen-shinran.com/  (In Japanese)
The website has closed with the end of the exhibition.

Related Events
Heiseikan Auditorium  November 19, 2011 (Sat)   13:30 - 15:00   RESERVE_FINISH
<Lectures>   Approaching Honen Shonin
Heiseikan Auditorium  November 26, 2011 (Sat)   13:30 - 15:00   RESERVE_FINISH
<Lectures>   Honen and Shinran
Heiseikan Auditorium  October 28, 2011 (Fri)   18:00 - 18:45   RESERVE_FINISH

Highlight of the Exhibition

 

Part 1: The Founders and Their Teachings
Senchaku hongan nenbutsu shu
Senchaku hongan nenbutsu shu
Kamakura period, 12th-13th century
Important Cultural Property
Rozanji Temple, Kyoto
(on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)
 
Kyogyoshinsho
Kyogyoshinsho (The True Teaching, Practice, and Realization), Bando Edition, Volumes 1
By Shinran
Kamakura period, 13th century
National Treasure
Higashi Honganji Temple, Kyoto

(Volumes 1 and 2 : on exhibit from October 25 to November 2, 2011)
(Volumes 3 and 4 : on exhibit from November 8 to November 20, 2011)
(Volumes 3 and 4 : on exhibit from November 22 to December 4, 2011)
 
Two Rivers and the White Path (J.,Niga byakudo
Two Rivers and the White Path (J., Niga byakudo)
Kamakura period, 13th century
Important Cultural Property
Komyoji Temple, Kyoto

(on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)

 

Tannisho
Tannisho (A Record in Lament of Divergences), Volumes 1
By Rennyo
Muromachi period, 15th century
Important Cultural Property
Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto

(Volumes 1 : on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)
(Volumes 2 : on exhibit from November 15 to December 4, 2011)

 

 

 

Part 2: Illustrated Biographies of Honen and Shinran
 
Honen Shonin e-den
Volumes 6
Honen Shonin e-den (Illustrated Biography of Master Honen),
Volumes 6　(detail)
Muromachi period, 15th century
National Treasure
Chion-in Temple, Kyoto

(on exhibit from October 25 to November 6, 2011)
 
Zenshin Shonin e
Zenshin Shonin e (Illustrated Story of Master Zenshin [Shinran]), Rin'a edition
Inscriptions by Kakunyo
Kamakura period, 14th century
Important Cultural Property
Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto

(Volumes 1 : on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)
(Volumes 2 : on exhibit from November 15 to December 4, 2011)

Volumes 1 (detail)
Zenshin Shonin e
Volumes 1 (detail)

 

 

 

Part 3-1: Honen and His Followers, Part 3-2:Shinran and His Followers
 
Boki-e
Volumes 5
Boki-e (Illustrated Biography of Kakunyo),
Volumes 5 (detail)
Inscription by Rokujo Arimitsu (n.d.), Illustrations by Fujiwara Takaaki (n.d.)
Nanbokucho period, dated 1351
Important Cultural Property
Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto

(Volumes 4 : on exhibit from October 25 to November 6, 2011)
(Volumes 5 : on exhibit from November 8 to November 20, 2011)
(Volumes 6 : on exhibit from November 22 to December 4, 2011)

  
Standing Amida Nyorai

Standing Amida Nyorai (Skt., Amitabha Buddha)
Kamakura period, dated 1212
Important Cultural Property
Jodo Shu
 
Letters to the Nun Kakushin
Letters to the Nun Kakushin
By Nun Eshin
Kamakura period, 13th century
Important Cultural Property
Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto

(on exhibit from November 15 to December 4, 2011)

 

 

 

Part 4: The Spread of Pure Land Teachings
 
Welcoming of Amida Buddha and the Twenty-five Bodhisattvas, also known as Haya raigo ("Swift Welcome")
Welcoming of Amida Buddha and the Twenty-five Bodhisattvas, also known as Haya raigo ("Swift Welcome")
Kamakura period, 14th century
National Treasure
Chion-in Temple, Kyoto

(on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)

  
 Anthology of Poems by the Thirty-six Immortal Poets, Honganji Edition(Collections of Priest Shigeyuki)
Anthology of Poems by the Thirty-six Immortal Poets, Honganji Edition, Collections of Priest Shigeyuki (detail)
Heian period, 12th century
National Treasure
Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto

(Collections of Priest Sosei : on exhibit from October 8 to November 6, 2011)
(Collections of Priest Shigeyuki : on exhibit from November 8 to November 20, 2011)
(Collections of Priest Yoshinobu : on exhibit from November 22 to December 4, 2011)
 
Taima mandara engi (Origin of the Taima Mandala)
Volumes 2 (detail)
Taima mandara engi (Origin of the Taima Mandala),
Volumes 2 (detail)
Kamakura period, 13th century
National Treasure
Komyoji Temple, Kanagawa Prefecture
(Volumes 1 : on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)
(Volumes 2 : on exhibit from November 15 to December 4, 2011)
 
Seated Amida Triad
Seated Amida Triad
Amida (Skt., Amitabha): Kamakura period, dated 1299
Attendants: Kamakura period, 13th century
Important Cultural Property
Jokomyoji Temple, Kanagawa Prefecture

 

Scenes of Hell and Amida Buddha's Pure Land
Scenes of Hell and Amida Buddha's Pure Land
Kamakura period, 13th-14th century
Important Cultural Property
Konkai Komyoji Temple, Kyoto

(on exhibit from October 25 to November 13, 2011)

 

Regular Exhibitions