Spring Special Exhibition "Birds and Beasts in the World of Faith - Representations of Animals in Buddhist Art"

Since ancient times, animals have built a close relationship with humans, either as objects of labor or as pets in daily life. In religious circles, animals have sometimes played the role of sacred beasts that acted as intermediaries between gods and humans, and have been the subject of deep faith as incarnations of gods and Buddhas. Animals that appear in religious worlds can be found in myths, folk tales, and legends from around the world. In Japan, many paintings and crafts were brought from India and China depicting not only elephants and lions, which have sacred symbolism, but also imaginary animals such as dragons and phoenixes, and attempts have been made to faithfully reproduce and create new works, mainly Buddhist art. The animals depicted in these paintings and designs with animal motifs are very unique and dynamic, and can be considered a third type of beauty in addition to aesthetic values ​​such as landscapes and people.

This special exhibition will feature 38 paintings, sculptures, crafts, and calligraphy that depict the divine beasts and animals that adorn the world of faith, such as the "Sawachidori Raden Maki-e Small Chinese Chest" (National Treasure), on which a plover patterned with mother-of-pearl shines in seven colors when bathed in light; the "Kingin Ji Issaikyo Sutra" (National Treasure), which will captivate you with the beauty of its inside pages painted with gold and silver paint, featuring egrets and small birds; and the "Amakawa Benzaiten Statue," in which Benzaiten holds a three-headed snake and evocative of a mysterious aura.

By experiencing the world of Buddhist art through the lens of animals, a familiar subject, we hope that you will feel closer to Buddhist art and gain a real sense of the history and faith of Mount Koya, a World Heritage Site.