Inviting Fortune: Auspicious Symbols in Japanese Art

January 4,2025 ～ March 2,2025
The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan

The New Year marks the beginning of a new chapter in life. Throughout history, people have sought to invite good fortune at this time by incorporating auspicious symbols into their celebrations. One example rooted in Chinese traditions is Mount Penglai, the island of the immortals. In Japan, miniature versions with cranes and turtles were crafted to invoke longevity. Mount Penglai’s associations with paradise were eventually transposed to Japan’s own Mount Fuji, a peak historically venerated as a sacred mountain.

The phoenix is another popular motif that originated in China, where it was revered as a legendary bird heralding the arrival of a great sovereign. In Japan, the phoenix was frequently incorporated into paintings and decorative arts as a symbol of nobility, particularly works associated with the Imperial Household. Other mythical beasts, like the majestic qilin and Chinese lion, came to embody wishes for peace and harmony.

This exhibition explores the rich world of auspicious symbols in Japanese art, inviting visitors to embark on a journey through a collection of works brimming with hope for a bright future.

Exhibition Website

Outline

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, January 4–Sunday, March 2, 2025 　
Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 　
(Last admission 4:30 p.m.)
*On January 7, the Museum opens at 1:00 pm.

Extended hours: On Fridays and Saturdays, the Museum opens until 8:00 p.m. (last admission 7:30 p.m.) except Fridays, January 31 & February 28.
Closed: Mondays, February 23 (The Emperor's Birthday).
Exceptionally open on Mondays: January 13 & February 24 and closes the following Tuesdays (January 14 & February 25) instead. 　
(When a national holiday falls on a Monday, the museum will be closed the following Tuesday instead.) 　
Subject to change. 　
Venue: The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan 　
1-8 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0001 (within the Imperial Palace East Gardens)

General Admission: Adults: 1,000 　　
students: 500
*Free admission for high school students, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 years or more. Please show valid ID or other documentation.
*Visitors with disabilities (along with the one assistant) will be admitted for free without a booking.
Number of objects in the exhibition: 46 works (All housed in The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.)
Organizer: The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
ホームページ: https://pr-shozokan.nich.go.jp/2024inviting-fortune/index_en.html