The art of Zen
Words, voices and images: Connecting to cultures around the world
"To see the exhibits properly you will need to spend a reasonable amount of time here, two days seemed about right to be able to get some sense of the scope and scale of the collection".
Tokyo National Museum is a storehouse of treasures. The museum’s collection is made up of 114,000 items and includes 87 National Treasures and 634 Important Cultural Properties. Around 3,000 objects are exhibited at any one time.
Tokyo National Museum opened in 1872 and is the oldest museum of its type in Japan. The museum collects objects from Japan and Asia more generally.
Specialist restoration services help restore and preserve these precious collections of archaeological objects and great masterpieces of Japanese art.
Andrea and I stay in Ueno and spend two days wandering the museum complex. The museum complex is particularly busy as a major exhibition The Art of Zen: From Mind to Form attracts large numbers of visitors from around Japan.
The buildings in the museum complex are Honkan (1938) an Important Cultural Property and the Japanese Gallery and the building in which the Art of Zen was exhibited. In this building you will take a journey through time and Japanese art.
The Heiseikan (1999) is a contemporary building for large-scale exhibitions. It contains the Japanese Archaeology Gallery.
The Hyokeikan (1909) which has special exhibitions and events. The building is an Important Cultural Property and was constructed to celebrate the wedding of the Crown Prince and Taisho Emperor.
Toyokan (1968) is the museum’s Asian gallery and exhibits art objects from China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, India and Egypt.
Kuroda Memorial Hall (1928), a Registered Tangible Cultural Property displays the works of western style painter Kuroda Seiki who died in 1924. The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures (1999) as its name suggests, houses this collection of over 300 objects, mostly from the 7th and 8th centuries. The objects were donated to the Imperial Family by Horyuji Temple in 1878. Kuromon (Black Gate), another Important Cultural Property, the main gate from the former Edo residence of the feudal lords, the Ikeda Family.
And so briefly to the Art of Zen. Zen Buddhism was introduced to China from India by the First Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma about 1500 years ago and spread through Tang Dynasty China, later reaching Japan during the Kamkura period (1192-1333).
The Art of Zen exhibition was held to commemorate the 1150th anniversary of the death of Linji Yixuan and the 250th anniversary rituals commemorating the death of Hakuin Ekaku. The exhibition, which will also be shown at the Kyoto National Museum, is large and contains numerous exhibits that introduce the art of Zen culture and its very significant influence over the development of Japanese culture.
Tokyo National Museum opened in 1872 and is the oldest museum of its type in Japan. The museum collects objects from Japan and Asia more generally.
Specialist restoration services help restore and preserve these precious collections of archaeological objects and great masterpieces of Japanese art.
Andrea and I stay in Ueno and spend two days wandering the museum complex. The museum complex is particularly busy as a major exhibition The Art of Zen: From Mind to Form attracts large numbers of visitors from around Japan.
The buildings in the museum complex are Honkan (1938) an Important Cultural Property and the Japanese Gallery and the building in which the Art of Zen was exhibited. In this building you will take a journey through time and Japanese art.
The Heiseikan (1999) is a contemporary building for large-scale exhibitions. It contains the Japanese Archaeology Gallery.
The Hyokeikan (1909) which has special exhibitions and events. The building is an Important Cultural Property and was constructed to celebrate the wedding of the Crown Prince and Taisho Emperor.
Toyokan (1968) is the museum’s Asian gallery and exhibits art objects from China, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, India and Egypt.
Kuroda Memorial Hall (1928), a Registered Tangible Cultural Property displays the works of western style painter Kuroda Seiki who died in 1924. The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures (1999) as its name suggests, houses this collection of over 300 objects, mostly from the 7th and 8th centuries. The objects were donated to the Imperial Family by Horyuji Temple in 1878. Kuromon (Black Gate), another Important Cultural Property, the main gate from the former Edo residence of the feudal lords, the Ikeda Family.
And so briefly to the Art of Zen. Zen Buddhism was introduced to China from India by the First Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma about 1500 years ago and spread through Tang Dynasty China, later reaching Japan during the Kamkura period (1192-1333).
The Art of Zen exhibition was held to commemorate the 1150th anniversary of the death of Linji Yixuan and the 250th anniversary rituals commemorating the death of Hakuin Ekaku. The exhibition, which will also be shown at the Kyoto National Museum, is large and contains numerous exhibits that introduce the art of Zen culture and its very significant influence over the development of Japanese culture.
Cultural Properties in Japan
Japan has a system of protecting Cultural Properties, many of which are very old. The purpose of the system is to ensure that Cultural Properties are catalogued and assessed, cared for in the sense they are not altered and repaired or restored without following strict guidelines. There are also restrictions on the export of classified Cultural Properties.
There are a number of categories and subcategories and as many things in Japan the classification system is complex. There are Tangible and Intangible Cultural Properties, National Treasures are the most precious of all, Tangible Cultural Properties. Tangible Cultural Properties can also be designated Important Cultural Properties status.
Described in its simplest form, Tangible Cultural Properties are physical entities, a building, an objector a work of art, determined to have important historical or artistic values.
Intangible Cultural Properties, as the name suggests, are less tangible forms of creativity of great merit and include music, drama, techniques and people. One of the most moving ideas of this classification is the Living National Treasures of Japan. These are the living embodiment of Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties.
Cultural Properties in Japan
Japan has a system of protecting Cultural Properties, many of which are very old. The purpose of the system is to ensure that Cultural Properties are catalogued and assessed, cared for in the sense they are not altered and repaired or restored without following strict guidelines. There are also restrictions on the export of classified Cultural Properties.
There are a number of categories and subcategories and as many things in Japan the classification system is complex. There are Tangible and Intangible Cultural Properties, National Treasures are the most precious of all, Tangible Cultural Properties. Tangible Cultural Properties can also be designated Important Cultural Properties status.
Described in its simplest form, Tangible Cultural Properties are physical entities, a building, an objector a work of art, determined to have important historical or artistic values.
Intangible Cultural Properties, as the name suggests, are less tangible forms of creativity of great merit and include music, drama, techniques and people. One of the most moving ideas of this classification is the Living National Treasures of Japan. These are the living embodiment of Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties.
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