This is the first exhibition at the Aizu Museum to display sacred clay and gilt-bronze statues of Buddhist deities of Tibetan Buddhist art called Tsa Tsa, mainly from the Yaichi Aizu Collection and the Kazuhiro Hattori Collection. In addition to Buddas and Bodhisattvas well-known in Japan such as Shaka-Nyorai (Gautama Buddha), Monju-Bosatsu (Mañjuśrī), and Jyuichimen-Kannon (Ekadaśamukha), there are figures unique to Tibetan Buddhism: Bodhisattva-type Amitāyus (Amida-Nyorai) crowned with a mitre, female Bodhisattvas such as Ārya Tārā (Tara Bosatsu), Dharmapālas with terrifying and horrific appearances, and Yab-Yums (literary meaning “father-and-mother”) portraying a man and woman embracing each other.
These small statues are assumed to be made from the Qing dynasty to the modern period, and because Tsa Tsas are often identically reproduced, there are many in the collection where the year made is unknown. However, there is a rare artifact of a Dharmapāla which was made for Emperor Kangxi (In rule between 1661 – 1722) of the Qing dynasty.
Exhibition information
- Date: December 8, 2016 (Thurs) – January 31, 2017 (Tues)
- Venue: Permanent Collection Exhibition Room, Aizu Museum 2F
- Time: 10:00 – 17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
- Closed: Sundays and Holidays
- Free Admission
Items on display