| Tokyo National Museum |
Article Index for Tokyo |
Limousines in Tokyo |
Articles about Tokyo National Museum |
Website Links For Tokyo |
Information AboutTokyo National Museum |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM | |
| 1872 establishments | |
| history museums | |
| museums in tokyo | |
| national museums of japan | |
|
Established in 1872, the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) is the oldest and largest museum in Japan . The museum collects, houses, and preserves a comprehensive collection of art works and archaeological objects from Japan and other East Asian countries. The museum holds over 110,000 articles, which includes 87 Japanese National Treasure holdings and 610 Important Cultural Property holdings (as of July, 2005). The museum also conducts research and organizes educational events relating to its collection. The museum is located inside Ueno Park in Taito-ku, Tokyo . The facilities consist of the Japanese Gallery (本館), Asian Gallery (東洋館), Hyokeikan (表慶館), Heiseikan (平成館), the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures (法隆寺宝物館), as well as the Research and Information Center (資料館) and other facilities. There are restaurants and shops within the museum's premises, as well as outdoor exhibitions and a garden where visitors can enjoy seasonal views. The museum's collections focus on ancient Japanese Art and ancient Asian art along the Silk Road . There is also a large collection of Greco-Buddhist Art . All information is provided in Japanese, Korean, Chinese, English, French, and German. HISTORY The museum came into being in 1872, when the first exhibition was held by the Museum Department of the Ministry Of Education at the Taiseiden Hall. This marked the inauguration of the first museum in Japan. Soon after the opening, the Museum moved to Uchiyamashita-cho (present Uchisaiwai-cho), then in 1882 moved again to the Ueno Park, where the museum stands today. Since its establishment, the museum has gone under major challenges such as the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and the temporary closing during wartime in 1945. In more than 120 years of its history, the Museum has gone under much evolution and transformation through organizational reforms and administrative change. The museum went through several name changes, being called the Imperial Museum in 1886 and the Tokyo Imperial Household Museum in 1900, until it was given its present title in 1900. FIVE EXHIBITION GALLERIES Japanese Gallery The Japanese Gallery provides a general view of Japanese art, containing 24 exhibition rooms on two floors. It consists of exhibitions from 10,000 B.C. up to the late 19th century, exhibitions of different types of art such as ceramics, sculpture and swords, and thematic exhibitions. The original Main Gallery (designed by the British architect Josiah Conder) was severely damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. In contrast to the original building's more western style, the design of the present Honkan by Watanabe Jin is the more eastern "emperor's crown style." Construction began in 1932, and the building was inaugurated in 1938. It was designated Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2001. |
Image:YayoiJarJPGA
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Yayoi" class="copylinks">Yayoi jar, 1st-3rd century, excavated in Kugahara, Ota-Ku, Tokyo |
|
Image:AsukaBodhisattvaJPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Bodhisattva" class="copylinks">Bodhisattva , Asuka Period , 7th Century |
|
Image:NanbanDoJPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Nanban" class="copylinks">Nanbandō , a western-style cuirass, 16th century |
|
Image:ManjiroMapJPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Nakahama_Manjiro" class="copylinks">Nakahama Manjiro 's report of his travels, 1850s |
|
Image: SB3JPGOne Of The First Representations Of The
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Buddha" class="copylinks">Buddha , 1st-2nd century CE, Gandhara |
|
Image:SeatedBuddhaJPGSeated Buddha,
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Gandhara" class="copylinks">Gandhara , 1st-2nd century CE |
|
Image:MaitreyaSeatedJPGMaitreya, Seated On A Throne In The Western Manner, With
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Kushan" class="copylinks">Kushan devotee 2nd century Gandhara |
|
Image:AmaravatiScrollJPGGreek Scroll Supported By Indian
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Yaksa" class="copylinks">Yaksa s, Amaravati , 3rd century CE |
|
Image: NorthernWeiMaitreyaJPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Northern_Wei" class="copylinks">Northern Wei Buddha Maitreya , 443 CE |
|
Image:TangBodhisattvaJPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Tang_Dynasty" class="copylinks">Tang Dynasty Bodhisattva |
|
Image:TocharianJPGWooden Plate With Inscriptions In
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Tocharian" class="copylinks">Tocharian Kucha , China , 5th-8th century |
|
Image:JapanesePolishedStoneAxesJPGThe Earliest Polished Stone Tools In The World Pre-Jomon (
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Japanese_Paleolithic" class="copylinks">Japanese Paleolithic ) period, 30,000 BCE |
|
Image:JomonPotteryJPGIncipient
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Jomon" class="copylinks">Jomon pottery (10,000-8,000 BC), the earliest pottery type in the world |
|
Image:JomonStatueJPGA Final
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Jomon" class="copylinks">Jomon statuette ( 1000 - 400 BC ) |
|
Image:KofunHorseCharriotsJPGHorse Charriots During The
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Kofun_era" class="copylinks">Kofun Era Detail of bronze mirror (5th-6th century) Eta-Funayama Tumulus, Kumamoto |
|
Image:HaniwaHorseJPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Haniwa" class="copylinks">Haniwa horse statuette, complete with Saddle and Stirrup s, 6th Century , Japan |
|
Image:AsukaSeatedBuddhaJPGThe
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Buddha" class="copylinks">Buddha , Asuka Period , 7th Century |
|
Image:NaraTempleTilesJPGTemple Tiles From
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Nara,_Nara" class="copylinks">Nara , 7th Century |
|
|
|