Partition paintings of Daikaku-ji temple to be highlighted at Tokyo National Museum

In the early Heian period, then Emperor Saga (786-842) had a villa built in a scenic area of Kyoto known today as “Saga.” Taking in a suggestion from priest Kukai (774-835), the founder of the esoteric Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism, statues of the Five Wisdom Kings (nonextant) were enshrined in the imperial villa. Later, in 876, a monzeki temple (a temple headed by priests of imperial or aristocratic lineage) named Daikaku-ji was established there at the wish of the emperor’s daughter Masako (former consort of Emperor Junna). The temple premises, as are known today, developed during the Azuchi Momoyama-Edo period (16th-19th century).

Commemorating the 1150th Founding Anniversary of Daikakuji
Treasures of Daikakuji: From Imperial Villa to Buddhist Temple

Jan 21 (Tue) – Mar 16 (Sun), 2025

Tokyo National Museum
(Ueno Park, Tokyo)

*See outline below for details

To mark the 1150th anniversary (in 2026) of Daikaku-ji’s founding, the Tokyo National Museum is holding an exhibition in January-March 2025 to showcase the artistic treasures of the temple.

“Treasures of Daikakuji: From Imperial Villa to Buddhist Temple,” the exhibition set to open on Jan. 21, 2025, highlights “Peonies” (top photo; a designated important cultural property of Japan) and other exquisite partition paintings by Kano Sanraku (1559-1635), or attributed to the Kano school painter, that adorned the halls of the courtly temple, and calligraphic masterpieces including those by Emperor and later Cloister Emperor Go-uda (1267-1324), who, during the Kamakura period (12th-14th century), is said to have restored the temple.

Other items to go on display include “The Five Great Wisdom Kings” set of statues by Buddhist sculptor Myo’en (collectively designated as an important cultural property), a 12th-century (Heian-period) masterpiece and Daikaku-ji’s principal image of worship, and the blade of the famed tachi (long sword) named “Usumidori,” otherwise known as “Hizamaru” (also designated as an important cultural property) from the 13th century (Kamakura period).

The 16th-century (Muromachi-period) Daikaku-ji version copies of “The Tale of Genji” will also go on display. Daikaku-ji appears in the Heian-period novel written by the legendary lady-in-waiting Murasaki Shikibu.

The exhibition will run through March 16, 2025.