TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM
Tokyo National Museum (TNM) has the longest history of any museum in Japan. TNM is home to over 120,000 "items," some of which are individual objects while others are collections numbering in the thousands. The TNM collection including 89 National Treasures and 648 Important Cultural Properties, making it the most significant collection in Japan in terms of both quantity and quality. About 3,000 of these items are on display in the regular exhibitions and are rotated often in six exhibition halls, allowing visitors to view a wide range of valuable cultural properties from Japan and other parts of Asia. In the museum garden, there are five teahouses with a pond in the center, where visitors can enjoy the colors of the flowers of the four seasons.
Highlights from TNM collection
The Bodhisattva Fugen
The Bodhisattva Fugen marks a high point in Heian Buddhist art from the twelfth century, a period known for its emphasis on delicacy and beauty. Much of its provenance remains unknown. However, the work has been regarded as a masterpiece of Heian Buddhist painting ever since it was recorded in Japan’s first official historical survey of Japanese art, A Brief History of the Art of the Empire of Japan (Manuscript) in 1901.
Writing Box with the Yatsuhashi Bridge, By Ogata Kōrin
The theme of this writing box alludes to eight plank bridges mentioned in the ninth episode of the early literary work The Tales of Ise. Like Kōetsu’s writing box, this piece also makes effective use of a lead plate. Kōrin further achieves a sweeping, lyrical composition by combining the use of mother-of-pearl with polished designs in gold powder. The writing box was exhibited at the Paris World’s Fair of 1878 and entrusted to the Museum the following year.
- Tea Leaf Jar, Moon and plum design in overglaze enamel, Studio of Ninsei, Edo period, 17th century, Tokyo National Museum (Important Cultural Property)
- Kosode (Garments with Small Wrist Openings), Autumn Grasses design on white twill, Design by Ogata Korin, Edo period, 18th century, Tokyo National Museum (Important Cultural Property)
- Dragon-Head Pitcher, Asuka period, 7th century, Tokyo National Museum (National Treasure)
- Tea Bowl, Known as Bakohan, Celadon glaze, Longquan ware, Southern Song dynasty, 13th century, China, Tokyo National Museum (Important Cultural Property, Gift of Mr. Mitsui Takahiro)
- The Bodhisattva Nikkō, Previously owned by Kinrinji Temple and Kōsanji Temple, Kyoto, Nara period, 8th century (Important Cultural Property)
- Tomb Sculpture (Haniwa): Warrior in Keikō Armor, Found in Ōta City, Gunma Kofun period, 6th century, Tokyo National Museum (National Treasure)
- Cypress Trees, By Kanō Eitoku, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 1590, Tokyo National Museum (National Tresure)
- Volume 1 of Collection of Japanese Poems Ancient and Modern (Gen’ei-Era Version), Heian period, 12th century, Tokyo National Museum (National Treasure, Gift of Mr. Mitsui Takahiro)
