General Information
Advanced ticket reservations for this exhibition are not required. However, in order to alleviate congestion in the galleries, the number of people allowed into the galleries may be limited. Exhibition dates are also subject to change. Updated information will be posted on this website and on the museum's official Twitter feed, so please check the latest information before visiting the museum in person.
| Exhibition Title | Special Exhibition Commemorating the 1200th Anniversary of Saichō's Death: Buddhist Art of the Tendai School |
|---|---|
| Period | April 12–May 22, 2022
The exhibition has two installations: Part I: April 12–May 1, 2022 Part II: May 3–22, 2022 |
| Venue | Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing |
| Transportation | JR, Kintetsu Railway, Keihan Railway, Hankyu Railway, City Bus |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Special Exhibition Hours | 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (Entrance until 5:00 p.m.) |
| Special Exhibition Admission | Adult 1,800 yen (1,600 yen) Univ. Student 1,200 yen (1,000 yen) High School Student 700 yen (500 yen)
|
| Audio Guide | under construction |
| Organized by | Kyoto National Museum; Tendai Buddhist Denomination, Enryaku-ji Temple; The Yomiuri Shimbun; Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation; Agency for Cultural Affairs |
| With the special support of | Canon Inc.; East Japan Railway Company; JAPAN TOBACCO INC.; Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.; MITSUBISHI ESTATE CO., LTD.; Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. |
| With the support of | SHIMIZU CORPORATION; Takashimaya Co., Ltd.; TAKENAKA CORPORATION; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Mitsubishi Corporation |
| With the special cooperation of | Onjō-ji Temple (Mii-dera); Saikyō-ji Temple; Shitennō-ji Temple; Sensō-ji Temple; Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine |
| With the cooperation of | Nissha Co., Ltd. |
| Special Exhibition Official Website | Commemorating the 1200th Anniversary of Saichō's Death: Buddhist Art of the Tendai School |
Description of This Exhibition
2021 marks the 1200th anniversary of the death of Dengyō Daishi Saichō (767–822), founder of Japan's Tendai school of Buddhism. Saichō was moved by the Lotus Sutra's egalitarian teaching that "the path to enlightenment is open for anybody," a doctrine that formed the basis of Tendai Buddhism's propagation across Japan. Saichō established Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, an area overlooking Lake Biwa to the east and Kyoto to the west. The temple produced many eminent priests whose diverse teachings would have a major impact on Japanese culture.
On this occasion, the special exhibition Buddhist Art of the Tendai School will be held at the Tokyo National Museum, the Kyushu National Museum, and the Kyoto National Museum over three periods between October 2021 and May 2022. The exhibition traces the history of the Tendai school in Japan, from its founding at Enryaku-ji Temple to the construction of Tōeizan Kan'ei-ji Temple and the establishment of strong ties with the shogunal government during the Edo period (1603–1868). While taking advantage of the regional characteristics of each venue, the exhibition will present treasures passed down throughout Japan and cultural properties that exemplify the concept of universal salvation expressed in the Lotus Sutra.
![National Treasure. Saichō, from Prince Shōtoku and the High Priests of Tendai Buddhism. Ichijō-ji Temple, Hyōgo. Photo courtesy of Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties [on view: April 12–May 1, 2022]](../../jp/special/img/20220412/saicho_20220412.jpg)
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