Exhibition/event has ended.
Smiling in Contemplation : Two Buddhas from Japan and Korea
Tokyo National Museum
Finished
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Buddhist deities portrayed with one leg crossed over the other and a hand held up to the cheek are called “pensive” Bodhisattvas, in reference to the state of deep contemplation that this pose represents. This type of image originated in India, the birthplace of Buddhism, and was later transmitted to China, and Korea, and Japan. Many sculptures of this type were created in Japan and Korea from the 6th to 8th centuries, including ones that are now considered masterpieces of ancient Buddhist sculpture.
Counted among these is a National Treasure preserved at Chuguji Temple in Nara prefecture. Its face, embellished with a gentle smile, is recognizable to nearly everyone in Japan. Another such masterpiece is in the collection of the National Museum of Korea. Made from bronze, it is well known to countless individuals in Korea as “National Treasure No. 78.” The fact that two exemplary sculptures with similar forms remain to this day in both Japan and Korea, speaks of the deep interactions between these two nations since ancient times.
Counted among these is a National Treasure preserved at Chuguji Temple in Nara prefecture. Its face, embellished with a gentle smile, is recognizable to nearly everyone in Japan. Another such masterpiece is in the collection of the National Museum of Korea. Made from bronze, it is well known to countless individuals in Korea as “National Treasure No. 78.” The fact that two exemplary sculptures with similar forms remain to this day in both Japan and Korea, speaks of the deep interactions between these two nations since ancient times.
Schedule | Jun 21 (Tue) 2016-Jul 10 (Sun) 2016 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Adults 1000 yen, University Students 700 yen, High School Students 400 yen, Junior High School Students and under free, Persons with a disability certificate + 1 companion free | ||||||
| Website | http://www.tnm.jp/modules/r_free_page/index.php?id=1792 | ||||||
| Venue | Tokyo National Museum https://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en | ||||||
| Location | 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712 | ||||||
| Access | 10 minute walk from the Koen exit of JR Ueno Station, 13 minute walk from the Main exit of Keisei Ueno Station on the Keisei line, 15 minute walk from exit 7 at Ueno Station on the Ginza and Hibiya lines. | ||||||
| Phone | 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial) | ||||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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