Closed | Mondays, except 9/18 and 10/9, and closed on 9/19 and 10/10 |
---|---|
Hours | 10 am to 5 pm(Entrance closes 30 min. before closing) |
General admission | Adult 1100 yen, Student 800 yen |
Gallery | 1and 2 |
This exhibition views Buddhism’s pantheon of buddhas, bodhisattvas, and deities from a unique perspective: that of the pedestals and vehicles on which their images are presented.
The lotus flower, the symbol of Buddhism, is the most widespread type of pedestal, but by no means the only one. Monju Bosatsu (Mañjuśrī), seated on a lotus pedestal, rides on a Chinese lion, Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra) on a white elephant. The armor-clad Four Guardian Kings stand on demons, and the graceful goddess Benzaiten (Sarasvatī) is seated on a lotus leaf. The world of esoteric Buddhism offers even more variations on Buddhist images and their pedestals.
A select group of __ works from the Nezu Museum collection, including the Kongōkai Mandala with Eighty-One Deities, the Legends of Zenkōji Temple, and the Aizen-myōō (Ragaraja) (all Important Cultural Properties) compose an unparalleled opportunity to examine the symbolism of Buddhist art and its stylistic riches.