Japan is home to some of the most significant early Chinese Buddhist paintings in the world. Japanese monks and envoys who traveled to Song (960–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasty China—renowned for its sophisticated Buddhist artistic tradition—brought numerous works back across the sea. These masterpieces were typically enshrined in temples, where they were preserved for hundreds of years. Chinese Buddhist paintings served not only as devotional objects but also as important models for Japanese artists, becoming deeply integrated into Japanese culture. The paintings imported between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries are of particularly high artistic quality. This exhibition explores the distinctive characteristics and rich diversity of Song and Yuan Buddhist paintings, delving into the enduring allure of these rare treasures that have been cherished in Japan for centuries.

National Treasure
Peacock Wisdom Queen (Mahāmāyūrī)
Ninna-ji Temple, Kyoto

National Treasure
Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara), Gibbons, and Crane
By Muqi
Daitoku-ji Temple, Kyoto