| Koyasan Reihōkan | |
| Native Name: | 高野山 霊宝館 |
| Collections: | Cultural properties of Koyasan |
is an art museum on Kōya-san, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, preserving and displaying Buddhist art owned by temples on Kōya-san. The collection is centered around articles from the Heian and Kamakura periods and includes paintings, calligraphy, sutras, sculpture and Buddhist ritual objects. Among these are a set of the complete Buddhist canon (issaikyō), writings of Kūkai and Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura Shogunate, mandalas and portraits of priests. The most valuable objects have been designated as National Treasure or Important Cultural Property.[1] [2]
Kōbō-Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism was a proponent of religious art as a way to enlightenment. Consequently, Shingon temples such as on Koyasan are among Japan's greatest repositories of Buddhist art. Initially, Koyasan's religious treasures were spread among the various subtemples with the highest concentration at Kongōbu-ji. Valuable objects were either locked away or — if used liturgically — placed at a distance from the viewer and often poorly lit. Repeatedly unrolling handscrolls or paintings on scrolls on request of visitors caused further damage. Following the Meiji Restoration, at the end of the 19th century, the government introduced a policy of separation of Shinto and Buddhism (Shinbutsu bunri) and many Buddhist temples became destitute. Some of Koyasan's artworks ended up in collections of museums in Tokyo, Kyoto or Nara or were sold to private persons, both domestically and to foreigners.[3]
In order to stop the outflow of cultural properties the government passed a series of laws starting with the in 1897 and continuing with the in 1929 and the from 1950 which, after a number of revisions and extension, is still effective today.[3]
The Koyasan Reihōkan was established with the help of volunteers by Kongōbu-ji, the head temple at Koyasan, with the aim to preserve and exhibit the precious religious and cultural heritage of Koyasan. Construction of the building in a wooded area southwest of Daishi Kyōkai, the administrative center of Shingon Buddhism, was completed on 30 September 1920. This first museum consisted of two connected halls and was designed to vaguely resemble the Phoenix Hall at Byōdō-in, Uji. The opening of the museum was celebrated on 15 May 1921 and the head priest of Kongōbu-ji, Hōryū Doki (土宜法龍) assumed the position of first director. Subsequently, the temple's head priests continued to work as museum director.[4] [5] [3]
On 16 September 1957, the was established and the museum put under its control. On 1 May 1961, the museum was expanded with the construction of the, at the time the biggest of its kind in Japan and used mainly for nationally designated tangible cultural properties of the fine arts and crafts type. In 1984, on the 1150th anniversary of Kōbō-Daishi entering the state of eternal meditation (nyūjō (入定)), a new large standalone and fireproof building was constructed to the east of the old structure, effectively doubling the display space. It also provided the museum with modern features such as proper lighting, full temperature and humidity control; things that are still lacking in the old structure today. On 5 May 1988 five buildings of the museum were designated as registered tangible cultural property. The storage space was further extended in 2003. The admission office and the three museum buildings are connected by sheltered walkways.[5] [4] [3]
The museum stores more than 50,000 artifacts of which more than 28,000 have been designated as valuable. This includes 186 objects or sets of objects designated as 21 National Treasures (about 4800 articles), 147 Important Cultural Properties (about 20,000 articles), 16 Important Cultural Properties of Wakayama Prefecture (about 2850 articles) and 2 Important Works of Art.[6] [7]
Eight National Treasure paintings owned by six of Koyasan's temples are stored at the Reihōkan. A 163.6cmx111.2cmcm (64.4inchesx43.8inchescm) hanging scroll showing the has been designated as National Treasure. Painted by in 1145 Heian period with color on silk, the scroll is owned by Kongōbu-ji.[8]
, owned by Kongōbu-ji is a large scale, 267.6cmx271.2cmcm (105.4inchesx106.8inchescm) hanging scroll painted with color on silk. Dated to 1086, Heian period, it is a type of Nirvana painting (nehan-zu) depicting the death and entrance to nirvana of the historical Buddha (Shaka). Typical for this kid of paintings, Shaka is shown lying on his deathbed surrounded by mourners. This painting is the oldest extant and finest of its type.[7] [8]
The is a 12th-century Heian period hanging scroll owned by . The scroll painted in colors on silk measures 166.4cmx136.4cmcm (65.5inchesx53.7inchescm). An inscription on the top tells of a wooden sculpture of Gonsō being created after his death by his pupils praying for happiness in the next world and praising Gonsō's learning and virtue.[7]
The triptych depicts Amida Nyorai, surrounded by Buddhist saints playing musical instruments, come to greet the spirits of the deceased to escort them to the Pure Land, a topic known as raigō-zu (来迎図). Painted on three hanging scrolls with color on silk, this work dates to around 1200, the turn from the Heian to the Kamakura period and is owned by .[8]
Originally consisting of five scrolls, the mid-Heian period treasure known as now consists of only three hanging scrolls after two were destroyed by fire in 1888. Painted with color on silk, the remaining scrolls show (322.8cmx179.5cmcm (127.1inchesx70.7inchescm)), (237.6cmx179.5cmcm (93.5inchesx70.7inchescm)) and (179.5cmx179.5cmcm (70.7inchesx70.7inchescm)). Owned by, they are in custody at the Reihōkan.[8]
owns a 12th-century, Heian period hanging scroll painted with color on silk showing the, a manifestation of Kannon who calms the raging waters. Literally the term Senchū Yūgen means inspired vision while on a boat. It is said that this Kannon appeared to the monk and founder of Shingon Buddhism, Kūkai in 806 while on a boat to China. Having the appearance of a deva and crowned with flowers, Senchū Yūgen Kannon is shown calming the waves with the hands.[8]
A Kamakura period hanging scroll of an is held at the museum. Painted with color on silk, the scroll measures 154cmx135cmcm (61inchesx53inchescm).[8]
Ike no Taiga, among the most famous Edo period painters, decorated fusuma sliding partitions with landscape scenes in the nanga style. The designated National Treasure known as consists of ten paintings with color on paper.[8]
There are two National Treasures in the sculpture category, both owned by Kongōbu-ji. An 8th century Tang dynasty brought back from China by Kūkai is stored at the museum. This 23.1cm (09.1inches) sandalwood, carving contains various Buddhist images.[9] [7] [10]
Six of the group of, the oldest, dating to 1197 Kamakura period by Unkei are National Treasures:,,,,, . The remaining two were produced in the 14th century and are not included in this nomination. The group, made of colored hinoki wood with crystal eyes, was formerly enshrined in the . All sculptures are around 1m (03feet) in size, specifically: 96.6cm (38inches) (Ekō), 98.8cm (38.9inches) (Eki), 95.1cm (37.4inches) (Ukubaga), 97.1cm (38.2inches) (Shōjō), 95.6cm (37.6inches) (Kongara), 103cm (41inches) (Seitaka).[7] [11] [9] [10]
A and plover motifs from the 12th century Heian period is the only crafts National Treasure at the museum. The chest is covered with black lacquer and gold dust has been sprinkled to form the image of plovers playing in the marsh. It is thought that the chest was once used to store Buddhist scriptures.[12]
Koyasan Reihōkan holds ten National Treasures related to writing, including six that are copies of sutras or sets of sutras, one religious study, two Japanese manuscripts of parts of the Wenguan cilin and one large set of ancient documents related to Mount Kōya.
There are several National Treasures related to copies of specific sutras, including 18 handscrolls of the from the 8th century Nara period held by ; seven scrolls of the (vol. 3 missing) from also from the 8th century, and one scroll, vol. 6 of the from the Heian period owned by Kongōbu-ji. The latter is notable for being written on colored paper. owns two treasures of the Konkōmyō Saishōō Sutra from the 8th century Nara period: one, consisting of ten scrolls and known as was one of the sutras enshrined in the state-sponsored "Temples for the Protection of the State by the Golden Light (of the) Four Heavenly Kings" founded by Emperor Shōmu. The other,, consisting of two scroll is unusual in having 34 characters per line instead of the usual 17.[13] [7]