Tokyo National Museum Special Exhibitions 2018 (April, 2018 - March, 2019

A variety of dramatic stories surround the creation of what are now considered “masterpieces” in the history of Japanese art. Moreover, these masterpieces were passed down through the ages and led to the birth of other, extraordinary works of art. Bringing together approximately 120 of these artworks, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties from a wide breadth of regions and historical periods, this exhibition will uncover the stories surrounding their creation, explore the shared aesthetic sense they reflect, and study the influence they exerted on one another.

Photo：Cactus and Domestic Fowls (detail), by Ito Jakuchu, Edo period, 18th century (Important Cultural Property, Lent by Saifukuji, Osaka)

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The Jomon period is believed to have begun about 13,000 years ago. Hunting, fishing, and gathering were the primary means of sustenance for the people of this period. Exercising their ingenuity in their daily lives, the Jomon people created various tools that are full of vigor and mysterious charm. Under the theme of “Jomon beauty,” this exhibition showcases outstanding artworks created in various regions of the Japanese archipelago from the beginning to the end of the Jomon period, shedding light on the technique and spirit expressed in these works. Visitors are invited to witness this magnificent “surge of beauty” that lasted 10,000 years.

Photo：Deep Bowl with Flame-like Ornamentation, From Sasayama site, Tokamachi, Niigata, Middle Jomon period, 3000-2000 BC (National Treasure, Tokamachi city (housed at Tokamachi City Museum)) Photo by Tadahiro Ogawa

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This exhibition traces the creative activities of Marcel Duchamp (1887–1968) ― a French artist who drastically challenged the values of Western art ― mainly through works in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Featuring Duchamp’s works alongside Japanese art for comparison, the exhibition will also explore the meaning of this Japanese art, which was nurtured in social environments that differed from those of the West, as well as the aesthetic values it embodies, proposing new ways of enjoying its beauty.

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Daiho’onji is an ancient temple that has stood in northern Kyoto since the early 13th century, the beginning of the Kamakura period. This exhibition will feature masterpieces of Kamakura-period sculpture such as the principle object of worship at Daiho’onji, the Sakyamuni Buddha–an image that is normally hidden from view–by Gyokai, a disciple of the renowned sculptor Kaikei; the Ten major disciples of Buddha by Kaikei; and the Six manifestations of Avalokitesvara by Higo Jokei.

Photo：Standing Jundei Kannon Bosatsu (Cundi) (detail), by Higo Jokei, Kamakura period, dated 1224, Daiho'onji, Kyoto (Important Cultural Property)

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During the Tang dynasty of China (618–907), three great calligraphers–Ouyang Xun, Yu Shinan, and Chu Suiliang–perfected the style known as "standard script." While inheriting the tradition they established, Yan Zhenqing (709–785) succeeded in establishing his own style of calligraphy, which would have tremendous influence for ages to come. Bringing together exquisite works from collections in Japan and abroad, this exhibition will explore Yan Zhenqing and his work, its influence on future generations, and its reception in Japan.

Photo：Draft of a Requiem to My Nephew, By Yan Zhenqing, Tang dynasty (Lent by the National Palace Museum, Taipei)

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This exhibition features artworks connected to the Imperial Family from the collections of the Imperial Household Agency. These artworks include the folding screens, Poetry and Genre Scenes from Yuki and Suki Provinces for Daijosai (Grand Thanksgiving Festival after the Enthronement), which were created by Higashiyama Kaii and Takayama Tatsuo in 1990 for a ceremony held upon the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Akihito. The exhibition also displays Japanese works introduced by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan on their visits to foreign countries. The Japanese culture conveyed by Their Majesties deepened the world's understanding of Japan and further promoted international exchanges with our country. In a year that marks the 30th anniversary of the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Akihito, this exhibition introduces the cultural exchange undertaken by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

Photo：Heavenly Maiden of Silk Cultivation, By Takamura Koun, 1924, Sannomaru Shozokan (the Museum of the Imperial Collections), Imperial Household Agency [On exhibit through March 31, 2019]

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