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Family Gallery
Shapes and Forms in the Buddha's World: Interpreting, Expressing, and Connecting

  • Image of "The Iconography of Fūten, One of the Twelve Devas (detail)Artist unknown; original by Chinkai, Kamakura period, 13th century; original: Heian period, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)"

    The Iconography of Fūten, One of the Twelve Devas (detail)
    Artist unknown; original by Chinkai, Kamakura period, 13th century; original: Heian period, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)

    Upcoming

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Thematic Exhibition Room
    July 23, 2025 (Wed) - August 31, 2025 (Sun)

    Buddhist gods are often depicted according to specific rules, such as having a certain number of faces or arms, holding objects, or posing in particular ways. These rules were communicated through visual representations, rather than written descriptions.

    This exhibition explores how these images of Buddhist gods were interpreted, creatively represented, and passed down to later generations.

    List of Exhibits

Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.

The Iconography of Fūten, One of the Twelve Devas, Artist unknown; original by Chinkai, Kamakura period, 13th century; original: Heian period, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)

The Iconography of Bishamonten, One of the Twelve Devas, Artist unknown; original by Chinkai, Kamakura period, 13th century; original: Heian period, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)

The Iconography of Gatten, One of the Twelve Devas, Artist unknown; original by Chinkai, Kamakura period, 13th century; Original painting: Heian period, 12th century (Important Cultural Property)

The Taima Mandala, By Kanda Sōtei Takanobu, Formerly owned by the priest San'etsu of Shimotsuke province, Edo period, 1836 (Gift of Mr. Kitagawa Norihisa)

The Wisdom King Fudō with Two Child Attendants, By Katsuyama Takushū, Edo period, 18th century

Exhibitions