British Museum to display Nara Buddhist statues

October 2, 2019

London--The British Museum will hold an exhibition featuring Buddhist sculptures from Nara Prefecture, western Japan, from Thursday.

The special event at one of the largest museums in the world will showcase artifacts designated as Japanese national treasures, including "Bodhisattva of Compassion," also known as "Dream-changing Kannon," from Horyuji temple.

The free-admission exhibit will run through Nov. 24, displaying six Japanese national treasures and eight important cultural properties along with items from the collection of the London museum.

The Japanese items are from major religious sites in Nara, including Todaiji and Toshodaiji temples and Kasuga Taisha, a Shinto shrine, as well as Horyuji.

The exhibition will shed light on Japanese Buddhist art between the seventh and 15th centuries.

"We are thrilled to welcome these rare Buddhist and Shinto treasures from Nara," British Museum Director Hartwig Fischer said.

"I'm excited to learn how the people of London will receive" the artifacts, Nara Governor Shogo Arai said, noting that Nara's culture is distinct in its international nature. Jiji Press