NaraExplorer

Oh! What is on earth happening here!?

We can't fail to get a lot of Shika Senbei cracker from people coming to the park but recently they just walk through the park without feeding us!! Well, I wonder what is happening and followed people the other day. Then I found a looooong line of people in front of the Nara National Museum. What is that...? "Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures"...?

Later I found that this is a special exhibition held every autumn and this is the 61st one. Shoso-in is a warehouse located back of Todai-ji Temple where people stored a number of valuable treasure since Nara Period (8th century) and part of the stored treasures are displayed in the exhibition. The exhibit includes items belonged to Emperor Shomu who commissioned to build Todai-ji Temple and Great Buddha and other precious art & crafts brought from China and Persia.

One of the highlights of this year is a large place with a painting of an imaginary deer whose horn is shaped like an auspicious Chinese flower (karahana). How nice he has a horn which looks like a flower! I would love to see him if I can!

Many items are not only from Japan but from the world. Nawa was such an internationally city in those days.

The Shoso-in Exhibition is open until November 12th, so why don't you come and see them? OK, I understand now why people are rushing to the museum without giving me crackers! No wonder they run to the museum to enjoy watchng beautiful exhibits.

To know more about the exhibition, visit the museum's website:http://www.narahaku.go.jp/exhibition/2009toku/shosoin/shosoin_index.html