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The National Treasure ASHURA and Masterpieces from Kohfukuji

  • Image of "Ashura, Nara period, 734National TreasureKohfukuji, Nara"

    Ashura, Nara period, 734
    National Treasure
    Kohfukuji, Nara

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Special Exhibition Galleries
    March 31, 2009 (Tue) - June 7, 2009 (Sun)

    This exhibition commemorates the 1300th anniversary of Kohfukuji Temple, Nara, featuring the sculpture of Ashura, one of the most treasured sculptures made during the beginning to mid-7th century. Ashura and other statues consisting the Devas of the Eight Classes and the Ten Great Disciples of Buddha, among which 14 survive until now, will be exhibited outside the temple together for the first time.

 General Information
Period Tuesday, March 31 - Sunday, June 7, 2009
Venue Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30 - 18:00 20:00
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays until 20:00
Open until 20:00 from Friday, May 29, 2009 to Sunday, June 7, 2009 (Closed on Monday).
(last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Mondays (Except for Monday, May 4) (Closed on Thursday, May 7)
* Open on Thursday, May 7, 2009
Admissions Adults: 1,500 (1,300/1,200) yen
University students: 1,200 (1,000/900) yen
High school students: 900 (700/600) yen
Junior high school students and under: Free
* Prices shown in ( ) indicate advance / group (more than 20 persons) discount tickets.
* Persons with physical or mental disabilities are allowed free entry with one accompanying guest each.
* Advance tickets are on sale at the Museum ticket office (during museum hours) and e-Ticket Pia (P-code:986-285), Lawson Ticket (L-code:34500), E-Plus and other major playguides, until Monday, March 30, 2009.
* Advance pair tickets (two admissions, 2400yen) are sold at e-Ticket Pia (P-code:986-286), CN Playguide, until Friday, January 16, 2009.
* Special exhibition "Story of..." (Saturday, March 28 - Sunday, May 31, 2009, Hyokeikan) requires a separate admission fee. A total of 100 yen discount will apply to day tickets when both special exhibitions are seen on the same day.
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
Organizers Tokyo National Museum, Kohfukuji, The Asahi Shimbun, TV Asahi Corporation
With the Support of Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, Association for Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital
With the Special Sponsorship of JA Bank
With the Sponsorship of Takenaka Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., East Japan Railway Company
With the Special Cooperation of Sony Corporation
With the Cooperation of Nissay Dowa General Insurance Co., Ltd., Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Inc., Asahi Gakusei Shimbunsha
General Inquiries 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial: in Japanese)
Exhibition Official Website http://www.asahi.com/ashura/
The website has closed with the end of the exhibition.
 Related events (In Japanese)
Commemorative lecture (application required)
  1. Saturday, April 11, 2009, 13:30 - 15:30, Heiseikan, Auditorium 
Title: "Establishment of Kohfukuji Temple and Tenpyo Culture"
Lecture by: Tagawa Shunei (Head Priest, Hossoshu Daihonzan Kohfukuji Temple)

 
  2. Saturday, April 25, 2009, 13:30 - 15:30, Heiseikan, Auditorium 
Title: "National Treasure Ashura"
Lecture by: Kaneko Hiroaki (Special Projects Curator (Japanese Sculpture), Tokyo National Museum)

 
  3. Saturday, May 9, 2009, 13:30 - 15:30, Heiseikan, Auditorium 
Title: "Kohfukuji Temple in the Nara Period and the Statue of Ashura"
Lecture by: Sato Makoto (Professor, Graduate School of the University of Tokyo)
Kohfukuji Lectures "Reconstruction of the Tenpyo Cultural Space Project" 
  Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Time: 11:30-, 14:00-, 16:00-
Venue: Heiseikan, Auditorium
 Exhibitions held simultaneously
"Story of ..." - Memories of Cartier creations
Hyokeikan, Saturday, March 28 - Sunday, May 31, 2009,
Requires a separate admission fee. For opening hours of this exhibition click here.
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between France and Japan, this exhibition displays 276 pieces from amongst the 1370 objects in the archives of Cartier, France's representative jeweller and other collections.
 Next venue
Kyushu National Museum : Tuesday, July, 14 - Sunday, September 27, 2009
 Major Works on Display
National Treasure Ashura and his World
Ashura   Ashura   Ashura
Nara period, dated 734
National Treasure
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
Devas of the Eight Classes
Nara period, dated 734
National Treasure
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
Gobujo Sakara Karura Kubanda Ashura Kendatsuba Kinnara Hibakara
Gobujo Sakara Karura Kubanda * Ashura Kendatsuba Kinnara Hibakara *
* On exhibit through April 19, 2009
Karura
Karura
Sakara
Sakara
 
Ten Great Disciples
Nara period, dated 734
National Treasure
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
Ten Great Disciples Ten Great Disciples
Furuna Kasenen Ragora * Sharihotsu Mokukenren Subodai
* On exhibit through April 19, 2009
Furuna
Furuna
Subodai
Subodai
 
The Establishment of Kohfukuji and Votive Objects from the Central Golden Hall
Votive Objects from the Central Golden Hall   Votive Objects from the Central Golden Hall
Nara period and Tang dynasty, 8th century
National Treasure
Tokyo National Museum
Reconstruction of the Central Golden Hall and Its Buddhist Figures
Head of Shaka Nyorai   Head of Shaka Nyorai
Kamakura period, dated 1186
Important Cultural Property
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
Standing Yakujo Bosatsu   Standing Yakuo Bosatsu  
Standing Yakujo Bosatsu
Kamakura period, dated 1201
Important Cultural Property
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
  Standing Yakuo Bosatsu
Kamakura period, dated 1201
Important Cultural Property
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
 
Standing Jikokuten Figure   Standing Jikokuten Figure
Kamakura period, dated 1189
Important Cultural Property
Kohfukuji Temple, Nara
Stages of VR computer graphics production
Stages of VR computer graphics production
Virtual Reality (VR) Theater

 
Production: The Asahi Shimbun, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
General supervision: Kohfukuji
Editorial supervision: Kaneko Hiroaki, Suzuki Kakichi