| Period | July 13, 2021 (Tue) - September 5, 2021 (Sun) |
|---|---|
| Venue | The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures, Tokyo National Museum, |
| Hours | 9:30-17:00 (Last entry 30 minutes before closing) |
| Closed | Mondays (Excluding holidays. On those days, the Museum will be open on Monday and closed the following day) |
| Admissions | Included in regular admission fee Adults: 1,000yen University Students: 500yen High/Junior High/Elementary School Students and persons under 18 and over 70, Persons with disabilities and one caregiver of individuals with disabilities: Free |
| Website | Tokyo National Museum https://www.tnm.jp/ |
The Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku is a national treasure that once adorned the Hall of Paintings of Horyuji Temple in Nara. It was painted in 1069, almost one thousand years ago, based on the legends surrounding the life of Prince Shotoku (574-622). Although many later versions were painted, this painting is recognized as the oldest surviving version. Through its long history, much of its original vibrancy and detail has been lost, making it difficult to appreciate in its current form.
The 8K Art Viewer is an application that allows users to view high-resolution images of the Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku on a large-screen 8K monitor. As they navigate the tablet, the viewer is able to enlarge the details of the painting far beyond the capabilities of the naked eye, and are even able to see Prince Shotoku’s subtle facial expressions. Informative explanations about each episode in Prince Shotoku’s life are also available.
This year, while the Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku is exhibited at the exhibition for the 1400th Memorial for Prince Shōtoku, HŌRYŪJI: Prince Shōtoku and Treasures of Early Buddhist Faith in Japan, the 8K Art Viewer will also be on display in an interactive area. Visitors will have a chance to learn about the legendary life of Prince Shotoku and examine this ancient masterpiece as never before possible.
Highlights of the Exhibition
The 8K Art Viewer is a tablet application that allows users to zoom in on scenes from the Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku. Each 1.9-by-1.5-meter painting in the illustrated biography was photographed in twenty-eight sections, which were then pieced back together to create 1.8 billion pixels of data per painting. Viewers can quickly navigate the paintings using a tablet and examine every corner of this National Treasure in 8K ultra-high definition.
Installation view at the Tokyo National Museum in 2019
By Hata no Chitei／Heian period, 1069／Color on twill-weave silk／ Ten panels／Tokyo National Museum（N-1）
Prince Shotoku (574–622) was the second son of Emperor Yomei. During the reign of Empress Suiko, Prince Shotoku is believed to have authored Japan’s first constitution while also actively promoting Buddhism and sending envoys to China to learn more about Buddhism. Painted in 1069 by Hata no Chitei, this is the oldest surviving version of the Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku. The painting depicts fifty-eight episodes based on Shotoku Taishi Denryaku, the definitive account of the prince’s life completed in the early tenth century. The 10 paintings originally decorated the inner walls of the Hall of Paintings in Horyuji Temple. The composition shows Ikaruga Palace at the center, but also includes views of Asuka, Naniwa, and even Mount Heng in China.
【Panel 1, Detail】Age 1: Banquets to Celebrate the Prince’s Birth
【Panel 1, Detail】Age 11: Powers of Levitation
【Panel 10, Detail】Age 12: Venerated by a Sage from Baekje
【Panel 3, Detail】Age 16: Illness and Demise of Emperor Yomei
Related Exhibition
*This special exhibition has already ended.
The year 2021 marks the 1,400th anniversary of the passing of Prince Shōtoku. To commemorate this occasion, the Tokyo National Museum will hold the special exhibition “HŌRYŪJI: Prince Shōtoku and Treasures of Early Buddhist Faith in Japan.”
The exhibition will explore the world of the actual historical figure of Prince Shōtoku along with the religious cult surrounding him through portraits of Shōtoku and precious objects passed down as his relics, as well as valuable cultural properties from the Asuka period (late sixth to early eighth century), with a focus on treasures preserved and passed down by Hōryūji Temple.
The 1400th Memorial for Prince Shōtoku “HŌRYŪJI: Prince Shōtoku and Treasures of Early Buddhist Faith in Japan”
Tuesday, July 13, to Sunday, September 5, 2021
Tokyo National Museum, Heiseikan
Although this exhibition has already ended, some of it can be seen on the website of the TSUMUGU Project
▷▷https://tsumugu.yomiuri.co.jp/artwork/horyujitokyokokuho/