Imperial Patronage of the Arts:
Modern Japanese Painting, Sculpture & Decorative Arts
Court Calligraphy:
Celebrated Manuscripts by Legendary Calligraphers
Vase with Crows, Sparrows, and Rice Plants
(one of a pair)
Namikawa Sosuke; painting by Izumi Baiitsu.
Meiji era, 1881
(On view throughout the exhibition period)
While having played a key role in protecting Japan’s cultural heritage, the Imperial Household was also instrumental in supporting artists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Imperial visits to art exhibitions helped attract public interest and the Imperial Family was also known to purchase works through the Imperial Household Ministry, further invigorating the art world.
This exhibition presents works the Imperial Family acquired at art exhibitions held from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. They include many autumn-theme paintings, sculptures, and decorative art. The Museum is excited to present these pieces from a lesser-known chapter in Japanese modern art history and tell the extraordinary story of the Imperial Household’s behind-the-scenes support.
The exhibition Imperial Patronage of the Arts features works purchased by the Imperial Family at exhibitions from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century, showcasing representative masterpieces and many autumn-themed works.
Imperial Patronage of the Arts unveils “Tree-Lined Avenue," a painting by Ota Kijiro, never before shown since its debut at the 1914 exhibition—revealing it after 110 years.
Peacocks
Araki Kanpo. Meiji era, 1890
(On view: November 26–December 22)
Court Lady
Asahi Gyokuzan. Meiji era, 1901
(On view: October 29–November 24)
Tree-Lined Avenue
Ota Kijiro. Taisho era, 1914
(On view throughout the exhibition period)
Autumn Valley
Ikegami Shuho. Taisho era, 1915
(On view: October 29–November 24)
*All works included in this exhibition are housed in the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.
Volume 4 of Collection of Myriad Leaves (Kanazawa Version)
Fujiwara no Sadanobu.
Heian period (12th century). National Treasure
(First Rotation: volume 2 / Second Rotation: volume 4. Pages on view of each volume also to change halfway.)
The Heian period (794–1185) is considered a golden age in the history of Japan’s imperial court. The tastes and pursuits of the highest-ranking courtiers at the time laid the foundations for centuries of court culture that followed, with special emphasis given to the interests of the Imperial Family and the Fujiwara regent line. These elite nobles were well versed in Chinese and Japanese classics and viewed exceptional calligraphy as a mark of refinement.
Court calligraphy can broadly be divided into purely aesthetic works and everyday bureaucratic texts, such as letters, documents, and missives. In this exhibition, decorative masterworks are displayed alongside examples of more practical court documents to allow visitors to compare these contrasting styles.
The exhibition Court Calligraphy showcases masterpieces of classical calligraphy and historical documents from the eleventh to seventeenth century, highlighting the diverse facets of courtly writing.
Highlights of Court Calligraphy includes two National Treasures: Collection of Myriad Leaves (Kanazawa Version), a 12th-century copy of Japan’s oldest known anthology, and one of the handscroll paintings Illustrated Miracles of the Kasuga Deity from the 14th century.
Volume 17 of Illustrated Miracles of the Kasuga Deity (detail)
Painting: Takashina Takakane; calligraphy: Ichijoin Ryoshin. Kamakura period, ca. 1309
(On view: October 29–November 24. Sections on view to change halfway.)
Part of "Collection of Poems by Fukayabu"
(One of the "Private Anthologies of Famous Poets")
Attributed to Ki no Tsurayuki. Heian period, 11th century
(On view: October 29–November 24)
Draft of a Letter
Fujiwara no Sadaie. Kamakura period, 13th century
(On view: October 29–November 24)
Classic of Filial Piety with Annotations
Sanjonishi Sanetaka. Muromachi period, 1531
(On view: November 26–December 22. Sections on view to change halfway.)
*All works included in this exhibition are housed in the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.
Exhibitions
Court Calligraphy: Celebrated Manuscripts by Legendary Calligraphers
Imperial Patronage of the Arts: Modern Japanese Painting, Sculpture & Decorative Arts
Exhibition Dates
Tuesday, October 29–Sunday, December 22, 2024
First Rotation: October 29–November 24
Second Rotation: November 26–December 22
Closed
Mondays.
*Exception: The Museum opens on Mon. November 4 and closes Tue. November 5 instead.
*Subject to change.
Hours
Admissions
Adults: ¥1,000 University students: ¥500
*Free admission for high school students, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 years or more.
*Visitors with disabilities, along with the one assistant, will be admitted for free without a booking.
Please show valid ID or documentation.
Tickets
Number of objects
in the exhibition
Court Calligraphy : 13 works
Imperial Patronage of the Arts : 25 works
All housed in The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.
Organizer
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
Venue
Gallery 1: Imperial Patronage of the Arts
Gallery 2: Court Calligraphy
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
1-8 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0001 (within the Imperial Palace East Gardens)
[Museum website] https://shozokan.nich.go.jp/en
[Instagram] https://www.instagram.com/shozokan_pr/
Official account @shozokan_pr
Tel.
+81 (0)50-5541-8600 (NTT Hello Dial Service)
Press Inquiries
Public Relations Office (within Kyodo PR) of The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
Contact: Ms. Mitsui
10th Floor, Ginza Shochiku Square, 1-13-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045
Tel: +81 (0)3-6264-2382
E-mail：shozokan-pr@kyodo-pr.co.jp
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
1-8 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0001 (with in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace)
Subway Lines: 5-minute walk from Otemachi Station
(Exit C13a)
JR Lines: 15-minute walk from Tokyo Station
(Marunouchi North Exit)
◎Hirakawa-mon Gate >>>
Subway Tozai Line: 10-minute walk from Takebashi Station
(Exit 1a)
◎ Kitahanebashi-mon Gate >>>
Subway Tozai Line: 15-minute walk from Takebashi Station
(Exit 1a)
*Hirakawa-mon Gate and Kitahanebashi-mon Gate are closed on Fridays and when the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are closed.
In 1989, His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus and His mother Empress Kojun gifted a substantial collection of art to the nation of Japan that had previously been passed down by the Imperial Family. In November 1993, the Museum of the Imperial Collections was established in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace in order to conserve these works, discover more about them through research, and make them accessible to the public.
The Museum’s collection spans diverse genres, including calligraphy, painting, and decorative arts. Visitors can view many iconic, celebrated works from each period of Japan’s history as well as pieces from around the world that have been gifted to members of the Imperial Family.
Since 2019, construction has been underway to expand the Museum’s storage and exhibition spaces and allow it to pursue a broader range of initiatives. Also, the Museum’s administration was transferred from the Imperial Household Agency to the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage in October 2023 to roughly coincide with the Museum’s partial reopening on November 3. A full reopening is planned for 2026.
The Museum exterior
For the latest information, please visit the Museum website or
call at +81 (0)50-5541-8600 (NTT Hello Dial Service).
