Special Exhibition Commemorating the Restoration of Portrait of Prince Shōtoku as a Paragon of Filial Piety and Illustrated Life of Prince Shōtoku

The Story That Never Ends

Japan Cultural Expo
Japanese Art and Craft Repair : Technique, Materials, and Transmission

Held at the Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art from
October 31 (Saturday) to December 13 (Sunday), 2020,the special exhibition
Visions of Prince Shōtoku,Tales Connecting Time and Space
presents many of the works associated with this illustrious prince from the museum’s
collection for the first time. The highlights of the exhibition include the Important Cultural Treasure
Portrait of Prince Shōtoku as a Paragon of Filial Piety and Illustrated Life of Prince Shōtoku,
which have recently restored. The exhibition will also present an overview of the many discoveries and
findings from this treatment, through closely related works and three tales about Prince Shōtoku

who's SHOTOKU

Prince Shōtoku has widely been revered in Japan as a great statesman who laid the foundation of Japan and founded Japanese Buddhism. Though he is the most famous historic figure in Japan, many questions as to who he was continue to exist even now. The mysteries surrounding him have perhaps made him all the more fascinating.

HIGH LIGHTS

A Closeup of the Three Tales

The first Tale:The Life of the Prince

Exploring the changing stories of Shōtoku’s life over time

The first Tale:The Life of the Prince

Prince Shōtoku at Age TwoJapan, Kamakura period, 13th century
Kosetsu Museum of Art

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This wooden statue portrays the prince at age two when, according to legend, he put his hands in prayers and recited “Namu Butsu” (“Homage to Buddha”). He stands upright and raises his brows in a stern expression, which does not seem very childlike.

Illustrated Life of Prince Shōtoku

Japan,Kamakura period, 14th century
Jōgū-ji Temple, Ibaraki Prefecture

IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY

This scene:Exhibited from December 1 – 13

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Most of illustrated tales of the prince, which visually depict episodes from his life, appear in hanging scroll format. The tales in handscroll format such as this work are rare. This exhibition features several examples in this unusual format, though this precious object is the only one among them with an identifiable dated. The scene here captures the episode in which the prince rode his favorite horse named Kurokoma to the summit of Mount Fuji. Here, Kurokoma gallops through thin air.

IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY

This scene:Exhibited from December 1 – 13

Lotus Sutra (Hokekyō) Copied
in Small Letters

Japan, Heian period, 11th century
Shitennō-ji Temple, Osaka

IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY

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According to legend, Prince Shōtoku was a virtuous Buddhist priest training in China in his previous life. He is said to have handcopied the scripture he used at the time. The manuscript here is purportedly this legendary sutra. Within the silver ruled lines, unusually small letters have been meticulously transcribed. This single volume contains eight chapters from the Lotus Sutra.

IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY

Standing Bodhisattva

China, Zui dynasty, 6th–7th century
Kosetsu Museum of Art

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Prince Shōtoku was instrumental in introducing Buddhism to Japan, though preceding this was the Buddhism of the great Zui dynasty in China. This magnificent image was made in the vicinity of the ancient capital of Chang’an. Carved of limestone, the statue casts a faint but wondrous yellow hue.

Tale2 The Transfer of Artworks

Exploring the Provenance of Objects Conveying the Cult of Prince Shōtoku

The first Tale:The Life of the Prince

Segments of the Illustrated Life of Prince ShōtokuJapan, Nanbokuchō period, 14th century
Kosetsu Museum of Art

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Four scenes, formerly from a rare large handscroll, were detached and remounted into this handscroll here. Other segments, which appear to be from the original scroll, now belonging to collections around the world, will be introduced in this exhibition. Learn about the background of these segments!

Illustrated Life of Prince Shōtoku From the Sumiyoshi Clan

Japan, Nanbokuchō period, 14th century Tokyo National Museum

Exhibited from November 25 - December 13

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The Sumiyoshi clan, which patronized generations of painters, collected masterful examples of traditional Japanese paintings known as yamato-e. The work here is among these, though it appears that the clan also owned illustrated biographies of Prince Shōtoku. The refined painting style here as seen in the refreshing use of light colors make is somewhat different from his other illustrated biographies.

Exhibited from November 25 - December 13

Tale3 The Restroration Treatment

Reflecting on the Works that Connect Us to the Future

The first Tale:The Life of the Prince

Portrait of Prince Shōtoku as a Paragon of Filial Piety

Japan, Kamakura period, 13th –14th century
Kosetsu Museum of Art

IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY

Exhibited from October 31 – November 15, December 1 – 13

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This newly restored painting depicts Prince Shōtoku as a beautiful young boy. Since its restoration, rich details such as the impressive ink landscape painting behind the prince, and the elaborate colors can be seen all the more vividly since its restoration.

IMPORTANT CULTURAL PROPERTY

Exhibited from October 31 – November 15, December 1 – 13

Illustrated Life of Prince ShōtokuJapan, Kamakura to Nanbokuchō period, 14th century
Kosetsu Museum of Art

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On exhibit for the first time, this painting from the Murayama Collection was badly damaged in an early fire. After undergoing this extensive restoration, the scenes have been resurrected. The many discoveries made from this treatment will be presented at this exhibition.

OUTLINE

Period October 31 - December 13, 2020
Closed Monday (Tuesday if a national holiday)
Hours 10:00 to 17:00 (Last admission until 16:30)
Admission
Adults
1,200 (1,000) yen
High school and university students
700 (500) yen
Elementary and junior high school students
400 (200) yen

※ ( ) Indicates advance sales / For groups of 20 or more
Organized by Kosetsu Museum of Art, FY 2020 Japan Cultural Expo Project
Presented and Co-presented by Agency for Cultural Affairs,
Government of Japan, and Japan Arts Council
Grant by Pola Art Foundation
In Cooperation with Oka Bokkodo Co.,Ltd. , Shokakudo Co.,Ltd.
PREVENTION MEASURES
AGAINST INFECTION

  • If you have any cold-like symptoms and/or are not feeling well, please refrain from visiting.

  • Your temperature will be measured before entering the museum. If you have a fever of 37.5°C ormore, you will be refused entrance.

    ※ Non-contact thermometers will be installed in front of the entrance.

  • Please bring and wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth to enter the museum.
    If you do not wear a mask, please refrain from entering.

  • Restrictions will be placed on admission if the galleries get crowded.

  • Please maintain a distance of at least 2 meters if there is a line in front of the ticketing desk.

  • Before entering the museum, please disinfect your hands with the provided rubbing alcohol.

  • Please fill out our form with your contact information (name and phone number or email) to help us prevent cluster outbreaks.

    ※Your personal information collected here will be used for the sole purpose of contact tracing as a measure to prevent cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 and will be discarded after the required period.

  • Please keep conversations to a minimum and maintain social distance with other visitors.
  • Please do not touch the walls, glass cases, and other objects in the galleries.
  • The touch-screen panels that are usually in the Murayama Ryuhei Memorial Room and galleries will not be
    available for safety reasons.
  • The restroom next to the entrance is available if you would like to wash your hands. Please show your ticket stub at the reception desk to reenter.

Prevention measures against infection

  • Regular cleaning and disinfecting of the museum
  • Conducting health checks of all staff and ensuring their use of masks and gloves
  • The installation of acrylic panels to prevent the spread of droplets in areas where staff are serving visitors
  • Availability of rubbing alcohol to disinfect hands

ACCESS

中之島香雪美術館 Nakanoshima Kosetsu Museum of Art

4F Nakanoshima Festival Tower West, 3-2-4, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0005, JAPAN
TEL : +81-6-6210-3766 FAX : +81-6-6210-4190
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Arriving via rail

By subway or Keihan Railway

  • Keihan Nakanoshima Line: Watanabebashi Station, direct acces from Exit 12
  • Subway Yotsubashi Line: Higobashi Station, direct access from Exit 4
  • Subway Midosuji Line/Keihan Main Line: Yodoyabashi Station, approx.
    5-minute walk from Exit 7

By JR

  • JR Osaka Station: approx. 15-minute walk from Sakurabashi Exit
  • JR Tozai Line Kitashinchi Station: approx. 8-minute walk from Exit 11-5

International arrival

  • From Kansai International Airport: approx. 50 minutes by limousine bus to the Osaka Station area
  • From Osaka International Airport: approx. 30 minutes by limousine bus to the Osaka Station area