A Series of Exhibitions Marking the 800^th Anniversary of Honen’s Death and the 750^th Anniversary of Shinran’s Death

The year 2011 marked the 800^th anniversary of the passing of Hōnen, the founder of the Jōdo sect of Buddhism, and the 750^th anniversary of the passing of Shinran, the founder of the Jōdo Shinshū of Buddhism, prompting a series of commemorative exhibitions. On March 17, the exhibition titled ‘Shinran shōnin 750-kaiki shūkyōdan rengō 40-shūnen kinen Shinan ten shōgai to bijutsu’ opened at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art (until May 29) while on Mary 29, the exhibition titled ‘Honen: The Life and Art of the Founder of the Pure Land Buddhist Sect’ opened at the Kyoto National Museum (until May 8). The ‘Shinran’ exhibition displayed approximately 130 artworks, including 45 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, consisting of three chapters: ‘Shinran shōnin no oshie to shōgai (The Teaching and Life of Shinran)’; ‘Jōdo shinshū no hirogari (The Dissemination of Jōdo Shinshū)’; and ‘Denrai no meihō to bijutsu (Treasures and Artworks)’. The ‘Hōnen’ exhibition comprised two chapters: Chapter 1 ‘Hōnen no shōgai to shisō (The Life and Thought of Hōnen)’, centered around the National Treasure ‘Illustrated Biography of Master Hōnen (法然上人絵伝)’; and Chapter 2 ‘Hōnen e no hōon to nenbutsu no keishō (Gratitude to Hōnen and the Continuation of Nenbutsu)’, displayed artworks created from the faith that emerged after Hōnen’s passing. Both exhibitions provided a rare opportunity to see outstanding works kept at associated temples, gathered together in one place. (Japanese)