I visited the “Japan, An Artistic Melting Pot” exhibition at the Kyoto National Museum, and I was absolutely shaken by the gathering of Japan’s national treasure collections. I don’t think there will ever be another opportunity like this to see so many national treasures in one place at once!
With the Osaka and Kansai Expo in mind, the National Museum is certainly putting on quite a show. Works like the Fujin Raijin-zu byōbu (Wind and Thunder Gods Folding Screen) and Fugaku Sanjūrokkei – Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura, Gaifū Kaisei (Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji – The Great Wave off Kanagawa and the Fine Wind, Clear Morning) are on display together.
Typically, national treasures and sculptures are preserved by the temples or institutions that have inherited them over generations, so it’s expected that many would be in the Kansai region. But even in Tokyo, it’s rare to see such a collection all in one place!
From Japan to abroad and from abroad to Japan: in many ways, Japan has been influenced by other countries, while also influencing the world. Amidst misunderstandings and modifications, there is a constant curiosity and awe in the artworks and sculptures that reflect newly seen animals, plants, people, foreign cultures, and first encounters with foreign artists and works of art.
Personally, I really like the ceramics and Nanban (Southern Barbarian) folding screens from the 16th century, Momoyama period. They beautifully blend Japanese and foreign cultures—just the right balance.
Also, the artworks featuring motifs of flowers, birds, wind, and moon, landscape paintings, mother-of-pearl inlay, and maki-e lacquerware boxes are all wonderful. The haniwa (ancient clay figures) are also adorable. (Yes, I love them all! Haha)
I spent a full three hours, and even participated in making a maki-e letter paper and envelope workshop, which took about four hours in total. Still, it felt like I didn’t have enough time.
Perhaps because of the rain, or maybe despite it, the Kyoto National Museum had a large crowd, and it was hard to view each piece slowly and carefully. It truly was an extraordinary exhibition, one that you rarely encounter!