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Mon, Feb 21, 2022

Eleven-headed Kannon of Shorin-ji temple on display at Nara National Museum

The “Standing Eleven-Headed Kannon Bosatsu (Ekadasamukha)” of Shorin-ji temple (Nara Pref.)
(Photo by Masazumi Nakahara)

A special exhibition featuring the Eleven-headed Kannon Bosatsu (Ekadasamukha) standing statue of Shorinji temple (Nara Prefecture), a government-designated national treasure, is now running at the Nara National Museum located in the city of Nara.

Viewers surround the Tempyo-era “Standing Eleven-Headed Kannon Bosatsu (Ekadasamukha)” on display at the Nara National Museum. (Photo by Masazumi Nakahara)

Titled the “Sacred Treasures from Ancient Nara: The Eleven-Headed Kannon of Shorinji Temple,” the exhibition highlights the graceful standing statue (209 centimeters in height) from the Nara period (Tenpyo era, to be more specific) — said to be the magnum opus of Japanese Buddhist statues — along with more than 30 scrolls, sutras and other items.

The standing statue is usually kept in a glass case at the Shingon-school temple (founded in 712 CE) in Sakurai, Nara Pref. On this occasion, however, the temple has agreed to put it on display without any casings, thereby providing the visitors with a 360-degree view of the statue. Myoka Kuramoto, the chief priest of the temple, says this is the last time the statue will be put on display without the case.

“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic today, we would like for many people to (come visit the museum and) see the statue, which was installed during the Nara period in response to an epidemic,” she said.

The special exhibtion, which lasts until March 27, 2022, is held in conjunction with Nihonhaku (Japan Cultural Expo) and supported by the Tsumugu Project — a joint effort by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, Imperial Household Agency and national daily The Yomiuri Shimbun (Tokyo) to help preserve Japan’s cultural legacies.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun and other sources)

For ticket info & more:

Outline of the event

Schedule

〜Sun, Mar 27, 2022

9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(Last admission 4:30 p.m.)

* On Saturdays, hours are extended to 7:00 p.m.

Museum website

Venue

Nara National Museum
50 Noborioji-cho, Nara

Admission

Online reservation required
Adults: 1,400 yen (1,500 yen)
University students: 700 yen (800 yen)
High school students: 400 yen (500 yen)
Junior high school students and under: Free
*( ) →For same-day tickets

Closing day

Feb. 28, March 22

Contact

Tel. 050-5542-8600 (Hello Dial)

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