[Tokyo National Museum] A halo pierces the Manjusri Bodhisattva

The first floor of the Heiseikan and main building of the Tokyo National Museum have a wide range of exhibits on Japanese history from the Jomon period to the present day.

The Jomon and Yayoi exhibits include shading clay figurines, haniwa clay figures, bronze mirrors, and bronze bells, all of which you've probably seen in textbooks! There are plenty of national treasures and important cultural properties on display. The regular exhibits aren't too crowded, so you can get up close and personal with the precious exhibits until you're satisfied.

The national treasure, the Ginzoganmeitachi, is a Japanese sword made in the 5th or 6th century, and is engraved with 75 characters, as well as Pegasus, birds, and fish. It's amazing that Japan was already able to manufacture its own unique swords and manipulate characters at this time.

Another attraction of the Tokyo National Museum is that you can see Japanese swords from 1,000 years later. Did you know the difference between a tachi and a katana? Japanese swords have a sori, but a tachi is one with the blade on the bottom for cavalry warfare, while a katana is one with the blade on the top for infantry warfare. It's true that in period dramas, the blade is facing differently when it is sheathed.

Buddhism spread from Gandhara to China, and then passed through Korea and Baekje, and was officially introduced to Japan in 538. Initially, it was meant to absorb the advanced culture and governance of the continent in addition to religious teachings. I have seen Buddhist statues from the Heian and Kamakura periods, and their facial features, carved in detail, have a variety of expressions, including compassion and anger. The 1,000 years since they were made give them a unique sense of dignity that is refreshing to the soul.

The Manjusri Bodhisattva Riding a Lion and the Standing Attendant are fascinated by the expressions and movements of each statue, but when viewed from the side, it looks like a halo is piercing Manjusri Bodhisattva. The halo is facing forward, but...

Also, ukiyo-e from the Edo period convey the culture and entertainment of the common people, but the Laughing Hannya, a work by Katsushika Hokusai, was so creepy that it blew me away.

Personally, I'm very satisfied with what I've seen so far, but there are still more modern exhibits to see, so if you're interested, please come and visit the Tokyo National Museum.

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Post by kuuusuke | Sep 17, 2024