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New Year's Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum Sensational Snakes from Japan and Beyond

  • Image of "Articulated Snake, By Muneyoshi, Shōwa era, 20th century"

    Articulated Snake, By Muneyoshi, Shōwa era, 20th century

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Rooms T1 & T2
    January 2, 2025 (Thu) - January 26, 2025 (Sun)

    Happy New Year! 2025 is the Year of the Snake, the sixth symbol in the Japanese zodiac. Snakes are familiar to many people around the world, yet their wide mouths and slithering movements can still surprise us.

    Since ancient times, these creatures have been associated with mysterious powers due to their ability to shed their skin and, in some cases, their venomous bite. This exhibition showcases depictions of snakes from various times and places, revealing the diverse qualities people have found in them — beauty, power, fascination, and even cuteness.

Major works in this exhibition

The Buddha Seated on a Nāga
Found in Lopburi, Thailand, Angkor period, 12th–13th century

Ancestor Spirit
20th century

Articulated Snake
By Muneyoshi, Shōwa era, 20th century

Snake Figurine
Iron age, ca. 1,000 BC

The Snake General, One of the Twelve Divine Generals
Passed down at Jōruriji Temple, Kyoto, Kamakura period, 13th century (Important Cultural Property)

White Snake on a Pine
By Keisei Eisen, Edo period, 19th century

(detail)

Volume 3 of Illustrated Origins of Kiyomizu Temple
By Tosa Mitsunobu, Muromachi period, 1517 (Important Cultural Property)

Noh Costume (Surihaku) with Triangles
Edo period, 18th century

 

 

Pamphlet

博物館に初もうで ―ヘビ~なパワ~を巳(み)たいの蛇(じゃ)!― リーフレットの表紙画像

New Year's Celebration at the Tokyo National Museum Sensational Snakes from Japan and Beyond

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Related Events

January 2, 2025 (Thu) - January 26, 2025 (Sun)