Scheduled Special Exhibitions(April, 2011 - May, 2012)

Room T5, Honkan

Buddha, a story in manga, was produced from a decade's work by Tezuka Osamu, the iconic manga artist renowned for such popular series as Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. Buddha is based on Tezuka's own interpretations of the life story of Siddhartha, the historical Buddha, and expresses the dignity of life - the eternal theme of Tezuka's works.

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Heiseikan

MAY, 1794. An unknown artist emerges, stunning the ukiyo-e world with a lavish series of 28 mica-printed Kabuki actor portraits. Over 140 prints later, he disappears again the following January. His name? Toshusai Sharaku.
The appeal of Sharaku's prints, however, is no mere by-product of this enigma: the emphatic, abbreviated style which struck a chord among his contemporaries continues to fascinate even today. This exhibition will explore the intriguing elements of his expression and the sources of his creativity, all the while highlighting the distinctive artistic qualities of his work.

Photo: Actor Otani Oniji 3rd as Edobei, By Toshusai Sharaku, Edo period, 1794 (Important Cultural Property)

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Heiseikan

Kukai, founder of the Shingon-sect Esoteric Buddhism, saw illustrations as effective tools for transmitting Esoteric Buddhist teachings, which are complex and difficult to explain in words. For this reason, great importance was attached to visible forms in Shingon-sect Esoteric Buddhism. This exhibition introduces masterpieces of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, with a focus on the period when philosophical elements maintained a strong presence in the works. Along with objects brought by Kukai from Tang China, works directly related to him are also featured, such as his writings and sculptures produced under his instruction.

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Room T5, Honkan

The end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century witnessed the birth of a new China. Active during this time were two men from China and Japan who shared a close bond. Sun Yat-sen was a man who devoted his life to the Chinese revolutionary cause. Umeya Shokichi offered Yat-sen his heartfelt support, both morally and materially, whilst building the foundations of the Japanese movie industry.
This year marks the centenary of the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, an event in which Sun Yat-sen played a pivotal role. To mark the occasion, this exhibition will use primary materials from that time to tell the story of Yat-sen and Umeya Shokichi, their friendship and the people and places close to them.

Photo: Mr. and Mrs. Umeya Shokichi and Sun Yat-sen, From Umeya Shokichi Album, 1914, Collection of Ayano Kosaka

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Heiseikan

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.

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

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Heiseikan

The site of the Palace Museum, Beijing, was formerly the residence of 24 Chinese emperors from the Ming-dynasty Emperor Yongle to the Qing-dynasty Emperor Puyi. In addition to its own glorious architecture, it houses a collection of more than 1.8 million artifacts.
This magnificent exhibition, organized to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and China, consists of a selection of 200 masterpieces from that collection, including the simultaneous display of 41 Song- and Yuan-dynasty calligraphic works and paintings not previously shown outside the palace, as well as a tremendous array of fabulous bronzes, jades and other artifacts. We hope you will take the opportunity to come and see this extraordinary encapsulation of the masterpieces of Chinese civilization.

Photo: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Palace Museum, Beijing (Image provided by the Palace Museum, Beijing)

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Heiseikan

Known as a Mecca for Asian art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has been collecting Japanese art since the days of Ernest Fenollosa and Okakura Tenshin, and is now said to be home to over 100,000 works. In terms of both quality and quantity, this collection is one of the best in the world and contains many superlative artworks indispensable for an understanding of Japanese art. This exhibition provides an opportunity to view masterpieces from this collection, with a focus on paintings, including several from the Bigelow Collection.

Photo: Fugen Enmei Bosatsu (Vajramoghasamayasattva), Kamakura period, 13th century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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