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Asahi Shimbun
3 days ago
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Dazzled by the enigmatic smile of an ancient sculpture
'Nyoirin Kannon,' or statue of Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, from Chuguji temple on display at Nara National Museum in Nara on May 20 (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Wanting to see a particular enigmatic smile in person, I traveled to the ancient Japanese capital of Nara. My destination was the Nara National Museum, where the celebrated Asuka Period (592-710) 'Nyoirin Kannon,' or statue of Seated Bodhisattva with One Leg Pendent, was on display in a special feature exhibition titled 'Oh! Kokuho: Resplendent Treasures of Devotion and Heritage.' The statue went on display on May 20 when some of the exhibits were replaced. To see the famed smile, one had to first complete a tour of the exhibition and see all the national treasures the museum had to offer. Only then, could a visitor be led into a dazzling white room that made one feel as if they were stepping into an alternate universe. There, in the center, materialized the 'kannon bosatsu'--or the goddess of mercy in Japanese Buddhism. The plump middle finger of her right hand touched her chin. Her left foot was on a lotus flower. With her eyes lowered serenely, she seemed to be contemplating the salvation of humanity. I had been told before that her face changed noticeably depending on the angle of view. That proved to be true. Up close, she looked infinitely gentle. Scrutinized from afar, she gave the impression of being determined or intense. This sculpture is made of wood, but its ebony sheen could have misled anyone into thinking it was metal. Everything about this treasure simply mesmerized me. In fact, many people have been captivated by this Japanese version of 'The Thinker.' Philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji (1889-1960) extolled it as 'the crystallization, in the shape of a human body, of our deepest and commonest yearning for mercy.' Photographer Ken Domon (1909-1990) put it much more simply: 'This is Japan's Madonna.' Domon deemed this bosatsu as a woman, probably because it was the main object of worship at Chuguji temple, a nunnery in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture. Originally, the statue was said to have been painted in bright colors and had a pectoral ornament. I learned this only after I left the museum, but that certainly did not detract from my appreciation for this treasure in any way. A tanka poem by Yaichi Aizu (1881-1956) goes: 'Looking up a Buddha statue/ lost in a reverie/ then I heard the footsteps/ on the museum floor' I was so immersed in the experience that I must have forgotten the time. When I 'came to,' so to speak, there were far more visitors around me than when I started. I left the small white room with reluctance. --The Asahi Shimbun, May 31 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
21-05-2025
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
CT imaging sheds light on origin of ancient 7-pronged sword
The Seven-Pronged Sword, a national treasure, is currently on display at the Nara National Museum. (Takayo Oyama) NARA—The Seven-Pronged Sword, a treasured fourth-century artifact, underwent a groundbreaking scientific examination using an X-ray CT scan for the first time. The scan revealed remarkably clearer images of its gold inlay inscriptions, which are expected to advance scholarly understanding of ancient Japanese history. The sword, which is named Shichishito, is a designated national treasure housed at Isonokamijinja shrine in Nara Prefecture. It features an unusual structure with three branch-like blades on each side. It bears a 62-character inscription, describing its creation as a diplomatic gift from the royal court of Baekje, a kingdom on the Korean Peninsula, to a Japanese ruler. The scan was conducted by the Nara National Museum to assess the sword's condition after more than 1,600 years—described by curators as a 'health checkup.' The imaging revealed a clearer rendering of the character for 'je' in 'Baekje,' which had previously been obscured by corrosion and debated among researchers. Another significant finding involves the inscription's reference to the sword's creation year. While most scholars have interpreted it as the fourth year of the Chinese era 'Taihe' (369 CE), some have proposed an alternative reading as 'Taishi' (468 CE) due to the last character in the word being obscured. The new CT imagery revealed a clearer shape of the character, strengthening the case for the 'Taihe' (369 CE) interpretation. The study didn't detect any serious deterioration or cracks, according to Satoru Yoshizawa, a senior curator at the museum. 'We didn't discover new characters, but the crisp images of the known inscriptions are a valuable asset for future research,' he said. The Seven-Pronged Sword is currently on display at the museum's special exhibition 'Oh! KOKUHO: Resplendent Treasures of Devotion and Heritage,' co-hosted by The Asahi Shimbun and other partners. The exhibition runs through June 15.
