On
the left is the Honkan, the museum's main building and home of the Japanese art
exhibits. This picture doesn't even begin to do the building justice, and it was
designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2001.The Tokyo National Museum was established in 1872. It has three buildings - the Honkan, Tokokan and Heiseikan. Chris has been once and MG has been four times - including visits to several of the museum's spectacular special exhibits. The museum is located in Ueno Park and contains collections of Asian historical items, Japanese art and archaeological items and a variety of other pieces that you'd be hard pressed to find equivalents for. It's truly worth the 420 yen they charge for the permanent collection, and even the 1200 yen that you'll pay for the special exhibits is not too much to ask for the quality they deliver. If you find yourself in Tokyo and really want to see examples of some of the finest art and archaeology Japan has to offer, this is a must-see.
On
the left is the Honkan, the museum's main building and home of the Japanese art
exhibits. This picture doesn't even begin to do the building justice, and it was
designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2001.
On the right is the Hyokeikan. It's a beautiful building with two bronze lions on either side of the entrance. Built around 1900, it represents Meiji era, Western-style architecture in Japan. I haven't read anything about it being destroyed or damaged during the 1923 earthquake or the 1944-45 bombing, but I have to assume that it was to some degree.
This
is MG in the Japanese ceramics room of the Honkan building. This picture was
actually taken in honor of Kelley Galvin, who had a picture of herself taken in
the ceramics and pottery room of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
On the right is MG's favorite piece from the Japanese ceramics collection. It features two white rabbits (a symbol of luck). It's Inari ware in blue underglaze. It's from the Edo period in the 19th century.
Ukiyo-e
woodblock prints are some of the most recognizable types of art from Japan.
During the Edo period, when the Tokogawa Shogunate had shut Japan off from most
of the rest of the world, Japanese art and theater flourished. Woodblock prints
and kabuki really took off at this time. This pictures are a reflection of
both.
On the left is a depiction of actor Otani Oniji 3rd playing the yakko Edobei by Toshusai Sharaku. The original is 36.8cm x23.6cm and it's dated 1794.
On the left is another print by the same artist created the same year. This is the actor Ichikawa Ebizo in the role of Takemura Sadanoshin.
These are two of the most famous woodblock prints in Japan, and they are given the designation of Important Cultural Properties.
These
are both terra-cotta figures found in or on ancient burial mounds. They're from
the Kofun Period, around 6th century. The burial mounds were quite impressive
but the early Japanese people stopped making them after the importation of
Buddhism because Buddhism prefers cremation.
Although the horse on the right is quite impressive, we much prefer the dog on the left (due to the fact that we're obsessive dog-lovers). In the museum itself, they are displayed in the same configiration that they probably would have been placed within the mound. Not too shabby for almost 2000 years ago, huh?
The
Ibis on the left was a truly beautiful piece. The body is a wood carving with
copper/bronze parts. It was discovered in Tuna el-Gebel, Egypt. It's from the
Ptolemaic Period, 304 - 30 B.C. Both of us thought it was fascinating.
The horse on the right is an impressive example of three-color glaze Chinese ceramics. It's from the Tang Dynasty, which was the 8th Century.
On
the left is a Dogu (clay figurine). It's from Kamikurokoma in Yamanashi. It's
from the Jomon Period, *3000-2000 B.C.*!! Simply amazing that this clay piece of
art has survived 4000-5000 years and can be seen by regular people like you and
me. Simply fascinating.
On the right is a wooden sculpture that was part of a special exhibit in "Zen Buddhism in Kamakura". This carving is of an individual traditionally identified as Minamoto no Yoritomo. He was the shogun who moved the capital of Japan to Karakura in 1192. This carving is said to have been installed at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shirahata-sha in Kanagawa. We think we saw it (or a replica) at a temple in Kamakura. It's from the Kamakura Period, which is the 13th-14th century. This piece is designated as an Important Cultural Property.
In
the museum, there's a room of samurai armor and swords. It's impossible to
describe how wonderful and intricate these things are. On the left is just one
example. This is a sword mounting of kazari-tachi type (that describes the
length and shape of the blade if you care). This particular mounting has
mother-of-pearl inlay decoration and gold fittings on nashiji lacquer ground.
It's from the Heian Period, 12th century and is a National Treasure.
On the right is a Chinese painting that Chris especially liked. It's called Solitary Angler on a Wintry River. It's by Zhu Duan and is from the Ming Dynasty, 16th century. The original measures 171.9 x 109.0 (cm). This is also designated as an Important Cultural Property. It really is an impressive piece when viewed in person. The Chinese Ming ink work is really something special (if you're into that kind of thing).
The
last three pictures are from an exhibit that on MG saw. It was titled
"Alexander the Great - East-West Cultural Contacts from Greece to
Japan." It was fascinating and wonderful - as well as exceptionally eclectic.
It showed how the conquests of Alexander the Great is reflected in art from
Europe, Asian, and Africa. That sort of I'm -smarter-than-you crap that MG
loves. However, some of it was super cool.
On the left is a sculpture that, from the rear looks like a typical Grecian figure of a woman. MG approached from the back side of the end where the head is and circled around. So she saw the beautiful of the woman's shape, then the curve of her breast, then the dip of her waist, then her scrotum. Anyone standing in the vicinity at the time totally got their admission's worth just for the look on the gaijin's face. It was then that she noticed that the name of the piece is "Hermaphrodite."
On the right is a crown...a real life, cool-as-shit crown. This one was much nicer than the tacky-as-hell crowns on display at the Tower of London. Who needs all of those stones plundered from Lord-knows-where when you can have simple elegance. MG would like one of these for her birthday next year in case anyone is interested.
And
finally, here is a nifty phoenix metal implement that was part of the display.
The level of detail and skill in the metalworking process had MG staring for
quite a while. But there was also a feeling of deja vu about the whole thing.
Sure enough, when she read the whole info card, she realized that this piece is
on loan from the British Museum and that she likely drooled over it when she was
in London last February.