At MieMu's 25th Special Exhibition and 5th Anniversary Special Exhibition, "Mie Buddha Statues - From Hakuho Buddha to Enkuu", we encountered many Buddhist statues from Mie Prefecture!

Did you know that there are many wonderful Buddhist statues here in Mie Prefecture?
Mie, which is adjacent to former capitals such as Kyoto and Nara, seems to have been influenced by this in some way due to its location, and the situation with Buddha was no exception. It is said that Buddhist statues were made in the style of the capital, and that the Buddha statues themselves were transported from the capital.
This Buddhist statue exhibition is attracting a lot of attention because it will be showing for the first time newly discovered Buddhist statues created by Kaikei, a superstar in the world of Buddhist sculptors!

Now, let's go to the majestic world!

First of all, from the Hakuho and Nara periods (it seems that Buddhist statues dating back to the Asuka period have not yet been confirmed in the prefecture).
Birth Shakyamuni Buddha statue. It has a simple taste and an indescribably cute appearance.

An extruded Buddha excavated from Torii Tumulus.
The image of Buddha is embossed on the copper plate. There are also Buddha statues made of clay and fired.
When it comes to Buddhist statues, there are many different expressions.
By the way, the gold color is from the time it was made. The brilliance of 1,300 years (over 1,300 years ago)...!

Next is a Buddhist statue from the early Heian period.
The seated statue of Fugen Bodhisattva is a symbol of the exhibition. The curves are very beautiful.
We would like you to see and enjoy the real thing, not only the expression and supple body, but also the detailed carved decorations and the grain of the base wood.

This is a standing statue of Shitennoji Temple from the late Heian period. The brave appearance of the four people.
Even the demons have no choice but to be knocked down quietly.

Buddha statues from various temples are lined up in one place. It's amazing.
Surprisingly, there is also a secret Buddha statue on display that is usually not open to the public, so you won't want to miss it!

The exhibits are displayed over time, so even those who are new to Buddhist statues can get a feel for the changes in making and technical skills.
Of course, you can choose your favorite Buddha statue intuitively. There are many ways to appreciate it.

The seated statue of Tathagata at Shindaibutsuji Temple IgaCity will be on display from October 18th!
The approximately 3 meter tall statue fills this space with a bang...it's sure to leave you overwhelmed.

and!
Here are two of Kaikei's new discoveries that have been unveiled for the first time!

Please take a look at the 360-degree, elegant shapes and detailed work to see for yourself.

Efforts to preserve wonderful Buddhist statues for future generations are also introduced.
The thoughts of the people who made the Buddha statues, the people of the temples and local communities who have continued to protect them, and the people who will continue to protect and pass them on have been connected for 100 or 1000 years.

We are also developing a collaboration project with the PC browser/smartphone app game “Namu Amida Butsu! -Rendai UTENA-”! A stamp rally is being held to visit Senshuji, Renkoin, Shitennoji, and Tsu Kannon around MieMu.
From November 9th, MieMu will also be exhibiting panels featuring characters and game setting materials.

In this exhibition, I stopped and gazed at the expressions of the various Buddha statues, wondering how the Buddhist sculptors felt when they swung their chisels, and what the people who put their hands together wished for.
I was also able to fully experience the artistic beauty of Buddhist statues and traditional culture.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the best selection of Buddhist statues in Mie Prefecture all at once. Please visit Mie Mu, the Mie Prefectural Museum, not once but twice!

[Exhibition details]
25th Special Exhibition / 5th Anniversary Special Exhibition "Mie Buddha Statues - From Hakuho Buddha to Enku"

Focusing on Buddhist statues from the Heian and Kamakura periods, we will bring together three-tiered Buddhist statues, including principal images and secret Buddha statues, and introduce their charms from various angles. In addition, newly discovered statues of Amida Nyorai and Jizo Bosatsu created by Kaikei will be exhibited for the first time. This is the first full-scale exhibition of Buddhist statues in the Mie Prefectural Museum in 16 years.
During the period, we will hold lectures, gallery talks, and collaborative projects. Please come with your family and friends.

・Event period: October 5th (Sat) to December 1st (Sun), 2019
*Closed every Monday (or the next day if Monday is a holiday)

・Holding time: 9:00 to 17:00
*Admission is until 30 minutes before closing.

・Venue: Mie Prefectural Museum (MieMu) 3rd floor special exhibition room (3060 isshinden TsuCity)

・Admission fee: 1,000 yen for adults, 600 yen for students, free for high school students and younger

Homepage: http://www.bunka.pref.mie.lg.jp/MieMu/
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