Buddhist Sculptures from Sensōji Temple

Kinryūzan Sensōji was founded in the 36th year of the reign of Empress Suikō (628), when two fishermen pulled a Kannon sculpture from the Sumida River. The temple was restored by the Buddhist priest Ennin (794-864) of the Tendai school several centuries later, after which the surrounding Asakusa area also started to flourish.

This exhibition features seventeen Buddhist sculptures from Sensōji Temple that have been entrusted to the Tokyo National Museum. This year marks the 1200th anniversary of the death of Saichō (767-822), the founder of the Tendai school of Buddhism. To commemorate this occasion, we invite you to also view the many treasures passed down by the Tendai school at the special exhibition Commemorating the 1200th Anniversary of Saichō's Death: Buddhist Art of the Tendai School (12 October-21 November), held at the Heiseikan of the Tokyo National Museum.