Past Exhibitions
- Feature Exhibition in Celebration of ICOM Kyoto 2019
Masterworks of the Kyoto National Museum: Temple and Shrine Treasures
Sacred Objects in Metal - August 14, 2019 - September 16, 2019
The glimmer of gold has universal appeal. In Japan, gilding is found on the the fittings and mountings of swords worn by warriors, which were later donated to shrines and temples as sacred offerings. Gilt bronze was one of the preferred materials for temple ornaments as well as for the most important Esoteric Buddhist ritual implements. Golden reliquaries and related "wish-granting jewels" exemplify the worship in Japan of the Historical Buddha’s symbolic bodily remains. This gallery features some of the most significant and exquisite early gilded metal objects in Japan.
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