25/10/2024
Great opportunity to experience in Kyoto!
The art exhibition “Geiten” started in 1994, the year of the 1200th anniversary of the founding of the Heian Capital, under the title of its predecessor “Kiyomizu Temple Ancient and Elegant Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition”. Even after the renaming, we continue to present to the world the charms of Japan's diverse art forms in the ancient capital of Kyoto, where literary tales such as “The Tale of Genji” and the national culture represented by kana script flourished and it is set in the ancient temple Kiyomizu-dera on Mount Otowasan where many people have come to worship.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the temple's registration as a World Heritage site, and we are pleased to announce the 4th Art Exhibition "Geiten" in Japan, connecting Kiyomizu Temple, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, and Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria.
Last December, the word “tax” was chosen and written as one of the “Kanji of the Year” by Seihan Mori, the chief abbot of Kiyomizu Temple. The reason for the choice was discussions on tax increases throughout the year, such as income tax and hometown tax payment. This exhibition will feature a special display of works by Gessho Shonin, abbot of Seijoin temple of Kiyomizu Temple at the end of the Edo period, and Ryokei Onishi, Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu Temple.
This Kiyomizu Temple and Schönbrunn Palace had a history of exchange through art. Maria Theresa of Habsburg, who served as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire for generations, loved Japanese traditional culture so much that she had a Vieux Laque Room built in her palace, saying, “I love lacquerware more than diamonds." Archduke Franz, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, visited Kiyomizu Temple during his world tour. As if to express his excitement, he had a Japanese garden created in a corner of the palace garden. Since then, the palace and gardens were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996 and is considered one of the most important heritage sites symbolizing the ties between Japan and Austria.
With the blessing of the standing statue of the Bodhisattva called "Juichimen senju sengan kanzeonbosatsu", which is enshrined in the Entsuden Hall of Kiyomizu Temple, the venue of this exhibition, we are proud to present this exhibition in the hope that the connection between our two countries will be strengthened through art, and that it will continue. We look forward to seeing you at the exhibition.
Contact information
Operated by: QUALIART Co., Ltd.
Tel: 06-6311-1400（Osaka branch office）only in Japanese acceptable
E-mail: [email protected]
