The exhibition runs June 24 to Sept. 15 at Tokyo National Museum before moving to Kyushu National Museum in Fukuoka for an Oct. 7 to Nov. 30 showing, Fung said.
NPM treasures have been exhibited in four foreign countries: Austria, France, Germany and the U.S. The Japan tour will be the museum’s first overseas display in Asia, he added.
Among the pieces are “Jadeite Cabbage with Insects” and “Meat-shaped Stone.” In particular, “Emperor Ming’s Journey to Shu,” a painting believed to date from the Song dynasty (960-1279), is expected to generate great interest in Japan.
The central figure in this painting is Emperor Xuanzong, aka Emperor Ming, of the Tang dynasty (618-907). He is seen fleeing with his retinue to Shu—present-day Sichuan—during the Anshi Rebellion. The emperor’s beloved concubine Yang Yu-huan died on the journey.
Japanese art lovers have a particular fondness for this painting as legend has it that Yang, aka Yokihi in Japanese, survived and fled to Japan, where she lived out her remaining years.
Fung said of the NPM pieces, 68 have national treasure and important cultural property status, making this an unprecedented and most important overseas exchange exhibit for Tokyo and Kyushu national museums.
Under the agreement between the NPM and its counterparts in Tokyo and Kyushu, “The Best of Japanese Art Special Exhibition” will be held at NPM’s southern branch in October 2016. This features 150 masterpieces from both facilities, as well as treasures from Kyoto National Museum.
It will be the first time for TNM’s national treasures to travel overseas for exhibit, Fung said, adding that the exchange will enhance cultural ties and boost art-related tourism for both countries. (YHC-JSM)
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