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Joint Thematic Exhibition with the Shanghai Museum:
Masterpieces of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy with Furnishings (Chinese Painting and Calligraphy)

  • Image of "Tapestry, Flower and bird design (detail), Qing dynasty, 18th century (Lent by the Shanghai Museum)"

    Tapestry, Flower and bird design (detail), Qing dynasty, 18th century (Lent by the Shanghai Museum)

    Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
    August 30, 2016 (Tue) - October 23, 2016 (Sun)

    High quality manuscript books were imported from China to Japan during the Nara through to the Heian period (8th to 12th century). The original significance of many of these books were forgotten, and the reverse sides of their paper were reused for other purposes. Consequently, those with important records on the reverse sides were passed down to the present day.

    From the Heian to the Kamakura period (12th to 16th century), many Zen monks traveled to China for religious training. They brought back writings of prominent priests, which were prized as bokuseki, while many other objects were gifted to Japan through further exchanges. These include masterpieces from Song and Yuan China that relevant examples rarely remain today, even in their home country.

    Furthermore, the Meiji era in the late 19th century saw the appearance of renowned connoisseurs who held their ideals in literati tastes in Chinese tradition, and brought fine artworks that were passed down in China to Japan. These painting and calligraphy works, appreciated under a unique Japanese aesthetic, came to form a collection with features original to Japan.

    This thematic exhibition introduces notable works of Chinese painting and calligraphy from the Tokyo National Museum collection, along with textile works from the Shanghai Museum with pictorial features. In China it was customary to enjoy tapestries with sources from painting and calligraphy. For example, the tapestry with immortal design was modelled on a work from the Qing emperor Qianlong’s collection, and the flowers and birds tapestry was weaved based on a mid- Qing dynasty painting by Li Shan. We hope visitors enjoy the profound world of calligraphic and pictorial representations.

     

 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
 Major works in this exhibition
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Li Bai Strolling, By Liang Kai, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit from September 27, 2016)
Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons: Spring, By Lu Ji, Ming dynasty, 15th-16th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit through September 25, 2016)
Tapestry, Immortal design, Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century (Lent by the Shanghai Museum)
Tapestry, Flower and bird design, Qing dynasty, 18th century (Lent by the Shanghai Museum)
Imaginary Tour through Xiaoxiang, By Li, Southern Song dynasty, 12th century (National Treasure, On exhibit from September 27, 2016)
Five Dragons, Attributed to Chen Rong, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit through September 25, 2016)
Collected Writings of Wang Bo, Vols. 29 and 30, Tang dynasty, 7th-8th century (National Treasure)
Verse in Gratitude for a Gift of Imperial Calligraphy in Regular Script, By Cai Xiang, Northern Song dynasty, dated 1053 (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Characters for Plaque of a Buddhist Temple, By Zhang Jizhi, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century (National Treasure, Lent by Tofukuji, Kyoto)
Poems in Running and Cursive Script, By Zhang Ruitu, Ming dynasty, 17th century
Poem in Running Script, By Zhu Da, Qing dynasty, 17th-18th century


 

Related Events
August 30, 2016 (Tue) - October 23, 2016 (Sun)
Exhibitions