Celebrating 130 Years of Amity between Japan and Thailand
Thailand: Brilliant Land of the Buddha
Celebrating 130 Years of Amity between Japan and Thailand
Thailand: Brilliant Land of the Buddha
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Heiseikan Special Exhibition Galleries
July 4, 2017 (Tue) - August 27, 2017 (Sun)

Commemorating the 130th year of diplomatic ties between Japan and Thailand, the two countries collaborated with concerted efforts on this exhibition. Throughout the long history of Thailand, Buddhism was closely tied with the people’s daily lives. A diverse Buddhist culture flourished, and extravagant works of fine and applied arts were produced. This exhibition gathers a choice selection of Buddhist art, together with treasures that are rarely exhibited outside the country, to introduce the role of Buddhism in the development of cultures in Thailand.
Rankings: The Top 10 Dazzling Golden Buddhist Arts Voting results (voting period:July 4 - August 27, 2017)
Highlights of the Exhibition
Part 2 Sukhothai: The Dawn of Happiness
Part 3 Ayutthaya: The Glittering Capital
Part 4 Siam: Japan’s Dreams of the South
Part 5 Rattanakosin: Indra’s Jewel
Part 1 The World of Buddhism in Ancient Thailand
Part 1, “The World of Buddhism in Ancient Thailand,” features the religious backgrounds of kingdoms that created the conditions for Thai culture to emerge. These kingdoms are from a time pre-dating the rise of the Thai kingdoms. This section covers a period that stretches from the 5th century, when Buddhist statues were introduced to the region that is now Thailand, through the 7th to 9th century, when Buddhist culture blossomed across the land, and up to the 13th century, when the Thai people began establishing kingdoms.

Seated Buddha on Naga Muchilinda
Sri Vijaya, End of the 12th–13th century
National Museum, Bangkok

Dharmachakra (Wheel of the Law)
Dvaravati, 7th century
National Museum, U Thong

Seated Ardhanarishvara
Khmer in Thailand, Pre-Angkor, 8th–early 9th century; National Museum, Ubon Ratchathani
Part 2 Sukhothai: The Dawn of Happiness
Part 2, “Sukhothai: The Dawn of Happiness,” features the early Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Lanna Thai. It introduces how, under sovereign rule, these kingdoms received Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka, and how the two kingdoms were connected through Buddhism. In the Sukhothai period, a religious belief in Buddha footprints began, and this trend continued into future generations throughout Thailand.

Seated Buddha
Sukhothai, 15th century
Sawan Woranayok National Museum, Gift of Phra Sawan Woranayok

(detail)
Inscription of Wat Sorasak
Sukhothai, dated 1417, Ram Khamhaeng National Museum

Walking Buddha
Sukhothai, 14th–15th century
Sawan Woranayok National Museum, Gift of Phra Sawan Woranayok
Part 3 Ayutthaya: The Glittering Capital
Part 3, “Ayutthaya: The Glittering Capital,” look at Ayutthaya, a city renowned for its international trade. Part 3 focuses on the new Buddhist art that emerged from Ayutthaya’s relationships with surrounding kingdoms.

Miniature Stupa
Ayutthaya, Early 15th century
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

Miniature Elephant
Ayutthaya, Early 15th century
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum

Cula Moungkut (Royal Headdress)
Ayutthaya, Early 15th century
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
Part 4 Siam: Japan’s Dreams of the South
Part 4, “Siam: Japan’s Dreams of the South,” look at Ayutthaya, a city renowned for its international trade. Part 4 highlights the port of Ayutthaya through its connections with Japan.

(detail)
Ratanakosin, dated 1918
National Library of Thailand
[on exhibit from August 1, 2017]

Lanna Thai, 16th–17th century
Tokyo National Museum


Ceremonial Cloth, Siamese Chintz
Early 19th century
National Museum, Bangkok
[on exhibit through July 30, 2017]
Part 5 Rattanakosin: Indra’s Jewel
Part 5, “Rattanakosin: Indra’s Jewel,” uses Buddhist art to present the restoration and development of Ayutthaya’s culture that was aspired to by the new city of Rattanakosin, as well as new interactions between Japan and Thailand in modern times.

Main Door Panel of Wat Suthat Thep Wararam, by Rama II
Ratanakosin, 19th century
National Museum, Bangkok

right: Banner, Descent of Buddha from Trayastrimsa Heaven
Ratanakosin, 19th century
National Museum, Bangkok

Howdah
Ratanakosin, 18th–19th century
National Museum, Bangkok

Japanese Style Sword with Embossed Gold Mounting
Ratanakosin, 19th century
National Museum, Bangkok
General Information |
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Period | Tuesday, July 4 - Sunday, August 27, 2017 | ||||||
Venue | Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park) | ||||||
Hours | 9:30 - 17:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 21:00 Sundays and July 17 until 18:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing) |
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Closed | Mondays and July 18 (Except for July 17 and August 14) | ||||||
Admission | Adults: 1600 (1400/1300) yen University students: 1200 (1000/900) yen High school students: 900 (700/600) yen Junior high school students and under: Free
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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 |
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Organizers | Tokyo National Museum, The Department of Fine Arts, Thailand, Nikkei Inc., BS Japan Corporation | ||||||
Co-organizer | The Japan Foundation Asia Center | ||||||
With the Support of | Royal Thai Embassy, Tourism Authority of Thailand | ||||||
With the Sponsorship of | NEC Corporation, Kao Corporation, Gurunavi, Inc., Starts Group, DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc., TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Mitsubishi Corporation | ||||||
With the Assistance of | Nippon Cargo Airlines Co., Ltd. | ||||||
Catalog, Audio guide | The exhibition catalog (2,500 yen) is available at the Heiseikan Special Exhibition Shop and at the museum shop in Honkan (Japanese Gallery). Audio guide (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean) is available for 520 yen. | ||||||
General Inquiries | 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial) | ||||||
Exhibition Website | http://www.nikkei-events.jp/art/thailand/ (In Japanese) The website has closed with the end of the exhibition. |
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