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Special Thematic Exhibition
The Buddhist Sculptures of Daianji Temple

  • Image of "The Willow Bodhisattva Kannon (detail), Nara period, 8th century, Daianji Temple, Nara (Important Cultural Property)"

    The Willow Bodhisattva Kannon (detail), Nara period, 8th century, Daianji Temple, Nara (Important Cultural Property)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 11
    January 2, 2023 (Mon) - March 19, 2023 (Sun)

    Daianji was Japan’s first temple built by the state. Its predecessor was Daikan Daiji (Great State Temple), with the temple assuming the name Daianji after relocating to the new capital Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara) at the start of the 8th century. Known as one of Nara’s Great Temples during the Nara period (710–794), Daianji flourished as a hub for Buddhist studies. It had a cosmopolitan atmosphere, with priests travelling from India, Vietnam, China, and elsewhere to reside and study on the temple’s spacious grounds. Daianji’s Nara-period Buddhist sculptures are carved from single blocks of wood. They are also characterized by exquisite carving and skillful bodily depictions. As such, they are pioneering examples of the wooden Buddhist sculptures prevalent in Japan from the Heian period (794–1192) onwards. With a focus on these statues, this exhibition explores the appeal of Daianji, the foundation of Japanese Buddhism.

    List of Exhibits

Highlights of the Exhibition

The Willow Bodhisattva Kannon

Nara period, 8th century, Daianji Temple, Nara (Important Cultural Property)

The Deva Tamonten from a Set of Four Heavenly Kings

Nara period, 8th century, Daianji Temple, Nara (Important Cultural Property)

The Bodhisattva Kannon of the Unfailing Lasso

Nara period, 8th century, Daianji Temple, Nara (Important Cultural Property)

The Sacred Bodhisattva Kannon

Nara period, 8th century, Daianji Temple, Nara (Important Cultural Property)

Image: Courtesy of Nara National Museum
Photo by Nishikawa Natsue

General Information

Period January 2, 2023－March 19, 2023
Venue Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 11, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30–17:00
(Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Mondays (Excluding January 2 and January 9), January 10 (Tue.) and February 7 (Tue.) .
Admission

Admission for this exhibition is included in tickets for the regular and special exhibitions (if visited on the same day).

Adults: 1,000 yen
University students: 500 yen

High/Junior High/Elementary School Students and persons under 18 and over 70: Free

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Special exhibitions require separate ticketing procedure and admission fees.
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Persons with disabilities are admitted free of charge along with one attendant. Please show official ID or other documentation.
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Regular admission is free for persons under 18 and over 70. Please show proof of age (driver's license, passport, etc.) when entering.
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
General Inquiries 050-5541-8600 ("Hello Dial")
Daianji Temple Website http://www.daianji.or.jp/en/ (In English)

 

Exhibitions