Exhibition ‘Treasures of the Imperial Collections’ Opened

On October 6, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Emperor’s accession to the throne, the exhibition titled ‘Treasures of the Imperial Collections – Splendor of Japanese Art’ opened at the Tokyo National Museum. Works of art from the Imperial Household Agency’s collection, including artefacts from the Shōsōin Repository and artworks from the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shōzōkan, were displayed in two parts: Part 1 ‘From Eitoku and Jakuchū to Taikan and Shōen’ and Part 2 ‘Shōsōin Treasures and Masterworks of the Calligraphy and Handscroll Genres’. The Part 1 was divided into two chapters: Chapter 1 ‘Kinsei kaiga no meihin (Masterpieces of Painting from Pre-Modern)’ and ‘Kindai no kyūden sōshoku to teishitsu gigeiin (Modern Palace Decorative Arts and Imperial Household Artists)’. Featuring ‘Chinese Lions’ by KANŌ Eitoku and ‘The Colorful Realm of Living Beings’ by ITŌ Jakuchū, approximately 80 works of art were on display until November 3. The Part 2 consisted of four chapters: Chapter 1 ‘Ko no bi kōkoibutsu, hōryūji kennō hōbutsu, shōsōin hōbutsu (Ancient Beauty: Archaeological Artefacts, Teasures Dedicated to Hōryūji Temple and Shōsōin Treasures)’; Chapter 2 ‘Kohitsu to emaki no kyōen (A Showcase of Ancient Calligraphy and Handscrolls)’; Chapter 3 ‘Chūsei kara kinsei no kyūteibi (Courtly Beauty from Medieval to Pre-Modern Periods)’; and Chapter 4 ‘Kōshitsu ni tsutawaru meitō (Renowned Swords Passed Down Through the Imperial Family)’. The Part 2 was on view from November 12 to 29. (Japanese)