In 1888 the Japanese government investigated cultural heritages and the Fine Arts at temples and shrines, and they found most of them in Kyoto and Nara. Therefore, it was necessary to build a museum for aesthetic treasures in order to protect. The main building of the museum was built with French Renaissance style and opened in 1897. The museum was first named the Imperial Museum of Kyoto, but in 1947 changed into the Kyoto National Museum. In the Fine Arts collections alone, there are more than 230 pieces that have been designated as either National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.
Website:
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/index.html
Location:
527 Chaya-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0931, Japan
Established:
1897
Collection:
Three parts: Fine Arts, including sculptures, paintings and works of calligraphy; Handicrafts, including pottery, fabrics, lacquerwares and metal works; and Archaeology
【Special Exhibition】
RINPA: The Aesthetics of the Capital
2015 marks the 400th anniversary of the origins of Rinpa and nearly 300 years since the death of its eponymous artist Ogata Kōrin. Among the various anniversary celebrations taking place in Japan this year, the Kyoto National Museum's commemorative special exhibition is perhaps the ultimate presentation of this subject, tracing the transmission of the Rinpa aesthetic from its inception through the Edo period (1615–1868). Significantly, it is also the first major show of its kind to be held in the birthplace of Rinpa—the ancient capital of Kyoto.
Reference Data
Links
Date October 14th, 2015.
Date August 9th, 2015
