Published On:Saturday, 25 October 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
'Mandala' Buddhist paintings rarely seen by public set to go on display
The “Ryogai Mandala-zu”
(Paintings of mandala of two realms) that date to 1693 were shown to the media
on Oct. 24. They are being exhibited in the temple’s Kanjoin hall as part of
the “Kyoto Hikokai Bunkazai Tokubetsu Kokai,” a special event to display cultural
properties that are rarely displayed.
A total of 18 locations,
including temples and shrines, will take part in the exhibition.
It will be the first time that
the two “Ryogai Mandala-zu” will be shown to the public in the Kanjoin hall.
The two works are designated by
the government as an important cultural property. They were originally used in
a secret ritual by the Shingon Mikkyo (an esoteric Shingon Buddhist sect).
One is titled “Kongo-kai”
(diamond realm) and the other is “Taizo-kai” (womb realm). Both are 4.1 meters
high and 3.8 meters wide.
During the media preview, they
were illuminated by about 40 light-emitting diode (LED) lights. The LEDs, made
by Kyoto-based Rohm Co., do not emit ultraviolet radiation or heat that can
damage fragile artworks.
The Kyoto Hikokai Bunkazai
Tokubetsu Kokai event will run until Nov. 9. Dates will differ depending on
location.
The Kyoto Heritage Preservation
Association is among organizations that arranged the showing. The Asahi Shimbun
is also one of the sponsors.-The Asahi Shimbun
