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The 1250th Memorial of Empress Komyo
Todaiji Temple and Monuments of Tenpyo Culture

  • Image of "Standing Buddha at Birth,Nara period, 8th centuryNational TreasureTodaiji temple, Nara"

    Standing Buddha at Birth,
    Nara period, 8th century
    National Treasure
    Todaiji temple, Nara

    Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Special Exhibition Galleries
    October 8, 2010 (Fri) - December 12, 2010 (Sun)

    The Great Buddha of Todaiji temple in Nara was initially built over 1250 years ago by order of Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo as a prayer for peace in Japan and the world beyond. Featuring works related to the Great Buddha, this exhibition looks into the spiritual aspects of the project, as well as the essence of Tenpyo-era culture. Exhibits will include: bronze panels from the octagonal lantern in front of the Great Buddha Hall, votive objects, Gigaku masks used during the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha, the largest ancient example of a "Buddha at Birth" sculpture produced in Japan, a portrait statue of the temple's first head priest Roben who devoted himself to the building of the Great Buddha, and sculptures of deities who, according to legend, manifested themselves as Buddhist priests and supported the project.

    Additional masterpieces such as portrait sculptures of the priests Chogen and Kokei who contributed to the temple's revival in the middle ages express the enduring cultural importance of the temple.

General Information
Period Friday, October 8 - Sunday, December 12, 2010
Venue Heiseikan, Tokyo National Museum (Ueno Park)
Hours 9:30 - 17:00
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays until 18:00
Fridays until 20:00
(Last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed Mondays (Except for Monday, October 11, November 8 and November 15) and Tuesday, October 12
Admission 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 disabilities are admitted free with one accompanying person each.
* Advance tickets are on sale at the Museum ticket office (during museum hours, 30 minutes before closing hour) and e-Ticket Pia (P-code:764-205), Lawson Ticket (L-code:39000) and other major ticketing agencies until the following dates respectively: Thursday, October 7, 2010.
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
Organizer Tokyo National Museum, Todaiji temple, Nara, The Yomiuri Shimbun
With the support of Agency for Cultural Affairs, Association for Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital
With the Sponsorship of SHIMIZU CORPORATION, Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd., TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co.,Ltd., FUJITA KANKO INC., Bunka Fashion College, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Mitsumura Printing Co., Ltd.
With the special assistance of Sony Corporation, Sony Business Solutions Corporation
With the assistance of Hewlett-Packard Japan, Ltd., NVIDIA Corporation, ELSA Japan Inc.
VR imaging with the assistance of TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
General Inquiries 03-5405-8686 (Hello Dial)
Exhibition Official Website http://todaiji2010.jp/
The website has closed with the end of the exhibition.
Related events (In Japanese)
  Commemorative lecture (application required)
Saturday, October 30, 2010, 13:30 - 15:00, Auditorium, Heiseikan
Title: "The Great Buddha of Todaiji and Sculptures of the Tenpyo Era"
Lecture by: Kaneko Hiroaki (Special Projects Curator (Japanese Sculpture))
Saturday, November 6, 2010, 13:30 - 15:00, Auditorium, Heiseikan
Title: "Dedications to the Great Buddha - A stem of grass, a handful of soil"
Lecture by: Kitakawara Kokei (a priest, Head of Todaiji, the Eastern Great Temple)
 
Saturday, November 7, 2010, 13:30 - 15:00, Auditorium, Heiseikan
Title: "Looking Underground into the Totoin Hall of Todaiji"
Lecture by: Kaneda Akihiro (National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural properties)
 
Talks by Todaiji Priests
(1) Tuesday, October 19, 2010
(2) Tuesday, October 26, 2010
(3) Tuesday, November 9, 2010
(4) Tuesday, November 16, 2010
(5) Tuesday, November 23, 2010
(6) Tuesday, November 30, 2010
(7) Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Time: 13:30-
Venue: Auditorium, Heiseikan
* Please note that it may cancel without prior notice.
 
Talks by Todaiji Priests (evening)
(1) Friday, October 8, 2010
(2) Friday, October 22, 2010
(3) Friday, October 29, 2010
(4) Friday, November 5, 2010
(5) Friday, November 12, 2010
(6) Friday, November 19, 2010
(7) Friday, November 26, 2010
(8) Friday, December 10, 2010
Time: 18:00-
Venue: Auditorium, Heiseikan
* Please note that it may cancel without prior notice.
 		  
Highlight of the Exhibition
Creation of the Daibutsu
Emperor Shomu ordered the construction of the Great Buddha in 743, and the project was begun in Shigaraki (in present-day Shiga Prefecture) because the palace had been relocated there at the time, but when the capital returned to Nara in 745, it was decided that the Great Buddha would be erected at Kinkomyoji. The name Todaiji first appears in historical records in 747 immediately after the casting of the Daibutsu began.
There were many difficulties throughout the production process, but there were also many tailwinds that pushed the project forward, including a major contribution of gold from Mutsu Province, and an oracle of divine protection from the god Hachiman of Usa in Kyushu proclaiming the support of the various indigenous gods.
Objects Excavated from Hokkedo Hall Vicinity   Objects Excavated from Hokkedo Hall Vicinity
Nara period, 8th century
Todaiji, Nara		   Plaque from Great West Gate   Plaque from Great West Gate (Nishidaimon) with Imperial Inscription
Nara period, 8th century
Important Cultural Property
Todaiji, Nara
Tenpyo Era Treasures
The eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha was finally held in 752. Monks in attendance included Bodhisena from India and Dao Xuan (J. Dosen) from China, and outside of the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) plays were presented and gigaku and various different kinds of music from China and Southeast Asia were performed.
This section presents objects primarily from the period of the production of the Great Buddha, starting with the gigaku masks that were used at the eye-opening ceremony. The octagonal lantern tower that stands in the front courtyard of the Daibutsuden and the standing figure of the Buddha at birth produced for the celebration of the Buddha's birthday are both fittingly monumental in size for Todaiji and have a healthy brightness of expression that conveys a sense of the mood of the period.
Light Blue Cord, For the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddh   Light Blue Cord, For the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha
Nara period, 8th century
The Shosoin Treasures
(on exhibit from November 2 to November 21, 2010)		   Gigaku mask: Suikoju   Gigaku mask: Suikoju
Nara period, 8th century
Important Cultural Property
Todaiji, Nara
Votive Objects, Dedicated prior to construction of the Main Hall (Great Buddha Hall)
Jar, Hunting scenes design Tachi Sword, with gold inlay Lock, Cicada shape with hosoge floral design in openwork
Jar, Hunting scenes design
* Votive Objects, Dedicated prior to construction of the Main Hall (Great Buddha Hall)
Nara period, 8th century, National Treasure, Todaiji, Nara		 Tachi Sword with gold inlay (detail)
Nara period, 8th century, National Treasure, Todaiji, Nara		 Lock, Cicada shape with hosoge floral design in openwork
Nara period, 8th century, National Treasure, Todaiji, Nara
Standing figure of Buddha at birth with ablution basin (kanbutsuban) Standing Buddha at Birth
With ablution basin (kanbutsuban)
Nara period, 8th century, National Treasure, Todaiji, Nara

Standing Buddha at Birth with ablution basin (kanbutsuban) (National Treasure) was created as the principal image of the Kanbutsu-e ceremonial celebration of the Buddha's birthday.
The magnanimous and corpulent expression of its form clearly demonstrates the characteristics of Tenpyo era style at its peak. The large ablution basin on which the figure of the Buddha at birth stands bears finely incised Tenpyo era designs of flowering plants and flying immortal figures.
Octagonal lantern   Panel from Fire Chamber of Octagonal Lantern
Panel from Fire Chamber of Octagonal Lantern (detail)
Nara period, 8th century, Todaiji, Nara (National Treasure)		   Panel from Fire Chamber of Octagonal Lantern
Panel from Fire Chamber of Octagonal Lantern (detail)
Nara period, 8th century, Todaiji, Nara (National Treasure)
Octagonal lantern, Nara period, 8th century, Todaiji, Nara (National Treasure)
The octagonal lantern tower at the center of the courtyard in front of the Great Buddha Hall dates to the time of the establishment of Todaiji and twice evaded destruction by wartime fires. It stands over 4.5 meters in height and the side panels and doors are adorned with relief designs of lions and bodhisattvas playing musical instruments. The nimbus of the Fukukenjaku Kannon Bosatsu figure (National Treasure), which is the principal idol of the Lotus Hall to the east of the Great Buddha Hall, is also a precious temple treasure of the same period and stands at a height of about 5 meters. This marks the first time that either piece is being exhibited outside of Todaiji.
Masterworks of sculpture
The Seated figure of Hachiman in guise of a monk (National Treasure), Standing Amida Nyorai figure (Important Cultural Property), and Standing Jizo Bosatsu figure (Important Cultural Property) are all created by the Buddhist sculptor Kaikei, whose work epitomizes sculpture of the Kamakura period. A masterpiece of portrait sculpture, the Seated figure of Chogen Shonin (National Treasure) illustrates the spirit of persistence and fortitude that made the accomplishment of the difficult undertaking of restoring the Great Buddha possible. Don't miss this assemblage of masterpieces of Kamakura period sculpture.
Seated Figure of Deity Hachiman as a Monk   Seated Figure of Deity Hachiman as a Monk
By Kaikei, Kamakura period, dated 1201, Todaiji (Hachimanden Hall), Nara
(National Treasure)		   Standing Jizo Bosatsu (Skt., Ksitigarbha)   Standing Jizo Bosatsu (Skt., Ksitigarbha)
By Kaikei, Kamakura period, 12th - 13th century, Todaiji (Kokeido Hall), Nara
(Important Cultural Property)
Seated Figure of Priest Kokei   Seated Figure of Priest Kokei (detail)
By Shokei, Edo period, dated 1706, Todaiji (Kokeido Hall), Nara
(Important Cultural Property)		   Seated Figure of Priest Chogen   Seated Figure of Priest Chogen (detail)
Kamakura period, 13th century, Todaiji (Shunjodo Hall), Nara (National Treasure)
Limited Engagement: Treasures of the Shosoin Treasure House
on exhibit from November 2 to November 21, 2010
The Shosoin Treasure House of Todaiji is the storehouse located to the northwest of the Great Buddha Hall. The collection of Shosoin Treasures originated in the year 756, when Empress Komyo dedicated the articles of deceased Emperor Shomu to Todaiji after his death. Various articles used in the eye-opening ceremony of the Great Buddha as well as different medicines collected by Empress Komyo were entrusted there. Until they came under the management of the Japanese government in the Meiji period, these treasures were safeguarded by Todaiji for over one thousand years. (On view from November 2 to 21 only.)
Folding Screen Panels
Ink Painting of Buddha Medicinal Cassia (Cinnamon) and Pouch
Medicinal Cassia (Cinnamon)
Nara period, 8th century, The Shosoin Treasures
(on exhibit from November 2 to November 21, 2010)
Ink Painting of Buddha
Nara period, 8th century, The Shosoin Treasures
(on exhibit from November 2 to November 21, 2010)
Folding Screen Panels, Elephant and tree design in wax-resist dyeing
Nara period, 8th century, The Shosoin Treasures
(on exhibit from November 2 to November 21, 2010)
Experience! Virtual Daibutsu
VR Reference photo Get close-up views of the Great Buddha through the latest in virtual reality computer technology. From magnified views of the hands and face to vantage points looking down at it from above or from the back offering perspectives one cannot normally see, the Great Buddha is presented from all angles on a massive screen about 7 meters tall by 8.5 meters wide
Exhibitions