List of Esoteric Flower Exhibitions

Seasonal flowers, favorite flowers, colorful flowers, flowers that remain in our hearts, ordinary flowers, precious flowers, and flowers that are not treated as flowers... Beyond differences in color, size and shape, flowers always move us in beautiful ways.

Ikebana begins with arranging the life and spirit of flowers, and has its origins in offering flowers to Buddha.

The history of offering flowers to Buddha is long, and it can be said to date back to the introduction of Buddhism.

There is a poem that was dedicated to Todaiji Temple by Gangoji Temple on April 10th, 752 (Tōdaiji Yoroku), and Sojō Henshō (816-890), one of the Six Immortal Poets, also left a poem (Gosenshu).

Also, in the prayer for the Manto-e ceremony held by Kobo Daishi on August 22nd, 832, at Mt. Koya, it is written, "I will hold a Manto-Manka ceremony to offer the two mandalas and the four types of wisdom seals. I hope to hold this event once a year to repay the four kindnesses. When the sky is filled, all living beings are filled, and nirvana is filled, my wishes will also be fulfilled." (Shoreishu, Eight volumes) In this way, the history of offerings to Buddha as "flowers," "lights," and "incense" is long, and the flowers offered and scattered at Buddhist ceremonies came to be from the flowers of the Pure Land and flowers that adorned Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Ikebana is also an art form born from the hearts and lifestyles of the Japanese people. In other words, it has its roots in the religious life of the Japanese people, and is an art form that was born in accordance with life and has developed from there.

We hope that this special exhibition, "Flowers of Esoteric Buddhism," will bring together all the paintings, sculptures, and crafts that are handed down at Mount Koya and their relationship to flowers, providing an opportunity to reflect on the flower-themed faith and experience the aesthetic sense and outstanding cultural assets of Esoteric Buddhism.

July 20, 2000 Koyasan Reihokan Museum