2018/09/19

Praises and Prayers—Selections from the Hara Rokuro Collection
Part I: October 6 (Saturday) to November 21 (Wednesday), 2018
Part II: November 23 (Wednesday) to January 14 (Monday/National Holiday), 2019
Venue: Kankai Pavilion, Hara Museum ARC
This two-part exhibition features works from the Hara Rokuro Collection centered on two themes: praises and prayers. The
first part, Praises, is the celebration of life as represented in works by Mori Tetsuzan and Nagasawa Rosetsu, disciples ofMaruyama Okyo, which appear together with a preparatory sketch made by Okyo for his masterpiece Landscape of Yodo
River. Mori Tetsuzan's A Hundred Cranes, a spectacular and powerfully composed work that features two popular symbols
for long life in Japan: the crane and pine tree.
The second part, Prayers, is the pictorial evocation of hope as seen in works of the Chinese painter Shen Nanpin, a greatlyinfluential figure in Japanese painting during the middle part of the Edo era. Symbols for longevity--the crane, pine tree,
orchid and rose--are also featured in his uniquely composed paintings as auspicious symbols of longevity. Part 2 also
includes Scene of mournful assembly at the death of Buddha, painted during the Momoyama period, a work that is literallycomposed around the act of prayer.

Part I: Praises
This part introduces works by two of the "Ten Great Disciples" of Maruyama Okyo: Mori Tetsuzan and Nagasawa Rosetsu.

[1] Mori Tetsuzan, A hundred cranes, Edo period, 19th century (Part 1)
In this picture, a coastline stretches gently from a large pine tree with roots deeply embedded into the rock cliff. Flying
down from the sky to the shore are red-crowned and white-naped cranes in various configurations. From ancient times, thecrane and turtle were thought to live a thousand years and ten thousand years, respectively, making them auspicious
symbols of longevity. In Japan, because of its grace and elegance, the crane is regarded as a symbol of beauty. Pine trees,
being evergreens, are natural symbols of longevity, and so paintings that feature them are considered auspicious in meaning.
[2] Nagasawa Rosetsu, Jumping horse and a child, hanging scroll, ink and color on silk, Edoperiod, 18th century (Part 1)
This picture shows a youth desperately trying to restrain a powerfully rearing horse. The details in
the mane and tail of the raging horse lend a strong sense of movement to the picture, while the thelife force, strength and tension of the horse are conveyed by the taughtness of the reins and frantic
expression on the boy's face.

[3] Landscape of Yodo River,Maruyama Okyo hand scroll
Edo period

Part II: Prayers[3] A pair of cranes, Shen Nanping, hanging scroll, color on silk,
Qing Dynasty18th century
In this painting, we see cranes, a pine tree and roses (which bloomyear round), motifs which signify long life and the hope for many
progeny. Various combination of motifs have auspicious meanings.
The combinations of pine with crane and roses with pine symbolize
longevity, while the katsura tree with orchid conveys a wish for many
progeny for another household. Meanwhile, a pair of male and female
cranes symbolizes a long and happy marriage.
[4]Scene of mournful assembly at the death of Buddha, hanging
scroll, color on silk, Momoyama period (Part 2)
This scroll depicts in vivid colors a scene from the Buddhist scripture:
Buddha passing into Nirvana. In the lower half, we see the Buddha
lying on a jeweled dais surrounded by his congregation and a further group of animals arranged in the foreground, including
an elephant and a lion. In the upper part, we see the undulating waters of the Gandak River comprising the background andMaya (Buddha's mother) descending to Earth on a cloud.
Featured Works[Part I & II] Traditional Art: Landscape of Yodo River, Maruyama Okyo hand scroll Edo period / Pair of Satsuma waresake bottles with portable maki-e case(buriburi) Edo period, 19th century[Part I] Nagasawa Rosetsu, Jumping horse and a child, hanging scroll, ink on paper, Edo period, 18th century / Fisherman
and his son, Qing dynasty / A hundred Cranes, Mori Tetsuzan, Edo period / Shoulao and flowers, attributed to Sakai Hoitsu
Edo period[Part II] Scene of mournful assembly at the death of Buddha, hanging scroll, Momoyama period / A pair of cranes, A pairof cranes and an old pine tree, Shen Namping Qing dynasty 18th century / Landscape of Mt. Fuji, Shiba Ko'kan hanging
scroll Edo period 18th century / Fish and weeds, Lin Dengke, Qing dynasty / Landscape, Tani Buncho, Edo period / Seaside
Landscape with sunrise, Yokoyama Taikan, Meiji period
Contemporary Art: Anish Kapoor / Hiroshi Sugimoto / Tomoko Yoneda and others
Hara Museum ARC
Address: 2855-1 Kanai, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma 377-0027 Tel 0279-24-6585 Fax 0279-24-0449
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Hours: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm (last entry at 4:00 pm)
Closed: Thursdays (except January 3), December 4-7, 11-14 and January 1 *Subject to temporary closure in the event ofsevere weather.
Admission: General 1,100 yen, Students 700 yen (high school and university) or 500 yen (elementary and junior high),
Free for Hara Museum members, 10% discount for a group of 20 or more, Combination ticket for Hara Museum ARC andIkaho Green Bokujo (except during Golden Week): General 1,800 yen; Students 1,500 yen (high school and university) or
1,400 yen (junior high), 800 yen (elementary), half price for those over 70, discount for groups of 20 or more
*Visitors to the Kankai Pavilion can view the on-going exhibition in the contemporary art galleries as well.
*Children must be accompanied by an adult.
*For residents of Gunma Prefecture: Free admission for elementary and junior high school children every Saturday during
the school term/200-yen-discount on admission for up to five persons upon presentation of the Guchoki Passport.
*Visitors to the Kankai Pavilion can view the on-going exhibition in the contemporary art galleries as well.
Directions: By train: Take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki, change to the Joestu Line, and disembark at Shibukawa. FromShibukawa, ARC is 10 minutes away by taxi or 15 minutes by bus (take the Ikaho Onsen bus to ″Green Bokujo Mae″). By
car: 8 kilometers (about 15 minutes) from the Kan-etsu Expressway Shibukawa Ikaho Interchange (in the direction of Ikaho
Onsen).
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