Overview

Kūkai (Known as Man’nichi Daishi, "Master of 10,000 Days")

Kūkai (Known as Man’nichi Daishi, "Master of 10,000 Days")
Muromachi to Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th–17th century
Kongōbuji Temple, Wakayama

The Buddhist priest Kūkai (774–835) transmitted esoteric Buddhism (J. mikkyō) to Japan aspiring to provide sentient beings with new paths to salvation. This exhibition explores the cross-cultural origins of what he brought from Tang-dynasty China, celebrating his achievements through the revelation of mandala realms.

Information & Access

Special Exhibition

Special Exhibition : Celebrating the 1,250th Anniversary of Priest Kūkai’s Birth

KŪKAI ― The Worlds of Mandalas and the Transcultural Origins of Esoteric Buddhism

Dates

Saturday, April 13th to Sunday, June 9th, 2024

Closed

The museum is closed on Mondays* and on Tuesday, May 7th.

  • * The museum is open on Mondays that are also national holidays. (It will be open on April 29th and May 6th.)

Hours

9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

  • * Last entry is thirty minutes before closing.
  • * Please note that exhibition hours differ from those of the permanent collection galleries.

Venue

The East and West New Wings of the Nara National Museum

50 Noboriōji-chō, Nara 630-8213

Organizers

The Nara National Museum, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) Nara Station, NHK Enterprises, Osaka Branch Office, and the Yomiuri Shimbun

Academic Advisor

Koyasan University

Sponsors

Nissha Co., Ltd.; Kinden Corporation; Tsuno Co. Ltd.; Panasonic Holdings Corporation; Non-Destructive Inspection Co., Ltd.

Cooperation From

The Museum Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta; The Cultural Bureau of Shaanxi Province; The Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration; The Xi’an Beilin Museum; Shuchiin University; NipponKodo; and the Association of Buddhist Art (Bukkyō Bijutsu Kyōkai)
Nara National Museum(map)

Nara National Museum

50 Noboriōji-chō, Nara 630-8213


  • A fifteen-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
  • A short ride on the Loop Bus to the Himuro Jinja/Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan stop from Kintetsu Nara Station and JR Nara Station

Admission

 

Same-Day Tickets

Group Tickets*

General Admission

2,000 yen

1,800 yen

High School and
University Students

1,500 yen

1,300 yen

Tickets can be purchased online through e-tix or at the Nara National Museum ticket booth.


  • * Groups must have twenty or more people to receive the discounted admission.
  • * Admission is free for students who are middle school age and below.
  • * Advanced tickets can be purchased from Tuesday, February 13th to Friday, April 12th.
Ticket on Smartphone / print At Home / Online Ticket /Click here to buy tickets

タイトル画像：国宝　両界曼荼羅（高雄曼荼羅）のうち金剛界［部分］　平安時代（9世紀）　京都・神護寺／国宝　五智如来坐像のうち大日如来　平安時代（9世紀）　京都・安祥寺／国宝　金銅密教法具　中国・唐（9世紀）　京都・教王護国寺（東寺）／国宝　錫杖頭　中国・唐（9世紀）　香川・善通寺

タイトル画像：国宝　両界曼荼羅（高雄曼荼羅）のうち金剛界［部分］　平安時代（9世紀）　京都・神護寺／国宝　五智如来坐像のうち大日如来　平安時代（9世紀）　京都・安祥寺／国宝　金銅密教法具　中国・唐（9世紀）　京都・教王護国寺（東寺）／国宝　錫杖頭［部分］　中国・唐（9世紀）　香川・善通寺／重要文化財　不動明王坐像　平安時代（9世紀）　和歌山・正智院

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