Nara National Museum facts for kids
| 奈良国立博物館 | |
Original Museum Building
|
|
| Established | 1889 |
|---|---|
| Location | Nara, Japan |
| Type | Art museum |
The Nara National Museum (奈良国立博物館, Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) is one of the most important national art museums in Japan. It's a special place where you can discover amazing art, especially Buddhist art, from Japan's past.
Contents
Discover the Nara National Museum
The Nara National Museum is located in Nara, a city that was once the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. Imagine, this city was the center of Japan a long, long time ago! The main building of the museum was designed by Katayama Tōkuma (1854–1917). It's a great example of Western-style buildings from the Meiji period (1868-1912) and is even considered an Important Cultural Property in Japan. A newer building was added in 1973, designed by Junzō Yoshimura (1908–1997).
Amazing Art Collections
The museum is famous for its collection of Buddhist art. This includes beautiful images, sculptures, and special items used in temples. The museum also keeps and shows artworks that belong to temples and shrines in the Nara area.
Each autumn, special items from the Shōsōin repository are put on display. The Shōsōin is a treasure house that holds many ancient artifacts.
Some of the cool things you can see in the museum's collection include:
- The 12th-century Hell Scroll (Nara National Museum) (地獄草紙), which shows scenes from Buddhist hell.
- An 11th or 12th-century mandala called Jōdo mandara-zu, which is a spiritual map.
- A 9th-century sculpture of the seated Buddha Yakushi, a healing Buddha.
A Look at History
The Nara National Museum first opened in 1889. Back then, it was called the Imperial Nara Museum. Its first exhibition was held in 1895. Before the museum even opened, there was a Nara exhibition in 1874. This was set up by the Nara governor at the time, Fujii Chihiro. The museum's name changed a few times, and it has been known as the Nara National Museum since 1952.
Museum Milestones
Here are some important moments in the museum's history:
- 1889: The museum is created as the "Imperial Museum of Nara."
- 1895: The first exhibition opens to the public.
- 1900: The museum is renamed the "Imperial Household Museum of Nara."
- 1952: The museum gets its current name, the "Nara National Museum."
- 1969: The original museum building is recognized as an "Important Cultural Property."
- 1972: A new exhibition building, called the West Wing, is finished.
- 1980: The Buddhist Art Library opens.
- 1995: The museum celebrates 100 years since its first opening.
- 1997: The East Wing and an underground walkway are completed.
- 2002: A Conservation Center opens to help protect and fix old artworks.
Museum Buildings and Areas
The Nara National Museum has several interesting parts, each with its own purpose.
The Original Museum Building
The very first museum building was designed by Katayama Tōkuma. It was finished in 1894 and looks like a French Renaissance-style building. It's known for its fancy decorations, especially around the West Entrance. This building is a great example of European architecture from the middle Meiji period and is an Important Cultural Property.
East and West Wings
These newer parts of the museum were designed by Junzō Yoshimura. The West Wing was finished in 1972, and the East Wing opened in 1998. Both wings have a similar modern architectural style.
Lower Level Passageway
This underground walkway connects the East and West Wings with the Original Museum Building. Here, you'll find the Museum Shop and a lounge where you can relax and grab a bite. Along the passageway, there are displays with models and pictures that explain how Buddhist sculptures are made. You don't need a museum ticket to enter this area, so it's a nice place for anyone to rest.
Buddhist Art Library
The Research Center for Buddhist Art was started in 1980. It collects and stores books, copies, photos, and other materials related to Buddhist art. The library and photo archives have been open to the public since 1989, mostly for researchers who want to study Buddhist art.
Hassoan Tea House
The "Hassoan" (八窓庵) is a traditional Japanese tea ceremony house located in the museum's inner garden. It was originally built a long time ago, during the middle Edo period, on the grounds of a temple called Daijo-in. This tea house is famous for having many windows, which was a favorite style of a tea master named Furuta Oribe.
Hassoan is considered one of the Three Great Tea Houses of Nara, along with Rokusoan and Okiroku. It has a tea room with four tatami mats and a special alcove called a tokonoma. The building has a rustic style, with a thatched roof.
To keep this special tea house safe for the future, people in Nara asked for it to be moved to the Imperial Nara Museum in 1890. It was moved to the museum grounds in 1892.
Conservation Center
The Conservation Center opened in 2002. Its job is to find, examine, document, protect, and fix National Treasures and other important cultural items. Experts who specialize in fixing sculptures, paintings, and old texts work here. They also give advice to people who own or care for these cultural treasures.
See also
- List of National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (archaeological materials)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (crafts-others)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (sculptures)
- List of National Treasures of Japan (writings)
- Agency for Cultural Affairs
- National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
