法然と極楽浄土
6

Shining the Light of Salvation in Turbulent Times
Treasures related to Hōnen and Pure Land Buddhist art, all in one place!

At the end of the Heian period (794–1185), Japan was in turmoil. People were exhausted by repeated wars, disasters, and frequent epidemic outbreaks. Against this backdrop, Hōnen (1133–1212) founded Japan’s Pure Land sect (Jōdo Shū) of Buddhism. He preached that by simply believing in in Amitabha Buddha and chanting “Namu Amida Butsu” allows anyone to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many people, from nobles to commoners, endorsed his teachings. After Hōnen’s death, his disciples continued to gather followers. With the patronage of the Tokugawa shogunate, Jōdo Shū greatly expanded during the Edo period (1603–1867).
In 2025, Jōdo Shū celebrates its 850th anniversary. We are marking this occasion by examining the teachings of Hōnen, who led a tumultuous and eventful life in pursuit of salvation. The history of the sect he founded will be traced through precious works, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties associated with Pure Land Buddhism.

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum, 100 Years of Broadcasting,
and the 150th Anniversary of The Yomiuri Shimbun

各周年ロゴ

Shining the Light of Salvation in Turbulent Times
Treasures related to Hōnen and Pure Land Buddhist art, all in one place!

At the end of the Heian period (794–1185), Japan was in turmoil. People were exhausted by repeated wars, disasters, and frequent epidemic outbreaks. Against this backdrop, Hōnen (1133–1212) founded Japan’s Pure Land sect (Jōdo Shū) of Buddhism. He preached that by simply believing in in Amitabha Buddha and chanting “Namu Amida Butsu” allows anyone to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many people, from nobles to commoners, endorsed his teachings. After Hōnen’s death, his disciples continued to gather followers. With the patronage of the Tokugawa shogunate, Jōdo Shū greatly expanded during the Edo period (1603–1867).
In 2025, Jōdo Shū celebrates its 850th anniversary. We are marking this occasion by examining the teachings of Hōnen, who led a tumultuous and eventful life in pursuit of salvation. The history of the sect he founded will be traced through precious works, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties associated with Pure Land Buddhism.

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Kyushu National Museum, 100 Years of Broadcasting, and the 150th Anniversary of The Yomiuri Shimbun

各周年ロゴ

Information

Exhibition Period

7 Oct (Tue)–30 Nov (Sun) 2025

Please note that some displays will be changed during this Special Exhibition.

Hours:

Sundays, Tuesdays–Thursdays
9:30–17:00 (last entry at 16:30)

Fridays and Saturdays (Kyuhaku After Five) 9:30–20:00 (last entry at 19:30)
*Please note that Kyuhaku After Five hours are subject to change.

Closed:

Mondays (except for Japanese public holidays falling on 13 October, 3 and 24 November). We are closed on these Tuesdays: 14 October, 4 and 25 November.

Tickets

Adults 2,000 yen
University & high school students 1,200 yen
Junior high & elementary school students FREE
*Tickets include entry into the Cultural Exchange Exhibition on Floor 4.
*University and high school students MUST present their student identification cards.
Admission is FREE for the following: (Personal ID documents showing birth dates are required for free admission)
  • Junior high school students (age 15 and under)
  • Those with disabilities and up to one (1) accompanying caretaker
  • Those with complimentary tickets
  • Kyushu National Museum Friend of the Museum Pass Holders
  • Kyushu National Museum Member’s Premium Pass Holders
  • Kyushu National Museum Supporters
  • Special Supporters and Supporters of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH)
  • ICOM Members
  • Japanese Association of Museums Members
Tickets / List of Works

Full-price tickets on sale 7 October-30 November 2025 from these vendors:

● ARTPASS (no handling fees)
● ARTNE Ticket Online (no handling fees)
● Lawson Ticket (L-code 82565) (no handling fees if purchased directly from Loppi)
● Ticket Pia(P-code:995-494) (handling fees will be applied)
● Seven Ticket (Seven code 111-121) [no handling fees]* (if purchased directly from the in-store multi-use copy machine) *When handling fees are applied, the system usage charge will range from 110 to 330 yen.
● Kyushu National Museum ticketing counters and machines (Floor 1)

  • Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded. Reselling tickets is forbidden.
  • The advance ticket discount does not apply to tickets after the exhibition begins.
  • At times of high volume, visitors may be asked to wait before entering the Special Exhibition.

● Organizers:

Kyushu National Museum and Fukuoka Prefecture, NHK Broadcasting, NHK Enterprises Kyushu Branch, Broadcasting, NHK Enterprises Kyushu Branch, Yomiuri Shimbun Broadcasting, NHK Enterprises Kyushu Branch, , Nishinippon Shimbun

● Co-organizer:

Kyushu National Museum Promotion Foundation

● Special Cooperation:

Jōdō Shū 850th Anniversary Celebration Committee, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, The Agency for Cultural Affairs

● Cooperation:

NISSHA, Hasegawa Arts and Crafts, Hasegawa

● Supporters:

Fukuoka City, Dazaifu City, Dazaifu City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dazaifu Tourist Association, Saga Shimbun

● Official X (formerly Twitter):
特別展「法然と極楽浄土」(in Japanese only)
● Official Instagram:

● General Inquiries:

050-5542-8600 (Hello Dial, 9:00–20:00 daily, in Japanese only)

出品目録
Events (in Japanese only)

Exhibition Period

Please note that some pieces will be replaced during the exhibition period.

First half: 7 October (Tue) – 3 November (Mon)
Second half: 5 November (Wed) – 30 November (Sun)

Two Monks Bound by Nembutsu

法然上人坐像
Important Cultural Property
Throughout the exhibition

Seated Statue of Master Hōnen

Kamakura period, 14th century
Taima-dera Oku-no-in Temple, Nara

聖光上人坐像
Important Cultural Property
Throughout the exhibition

Seated Statue of Master Shōkō

Kamakura period, 13th century
Zendō-ji Temple, Fukuoka

阿弥陀二十五菩薩来迎図

It’s the pinnacle of Amitabha paintings! This Buddha leads the faithful to paradise.

National Treasure
First half

Welcoming Descent of Amitabha and 25 Bodhisattvas, known as Haya Raigō

Kamakura period, 14th century
Chion-in Temple, Kyoto

綴織當麻曼陀羅
National Treasure
Only 3 weeks: 11/11–11/30

On display for the first time in Kyushu!
The Miracle of a Secret Buddha sewn with Lotus Threads

Taima Mandala

China, Tang dynasty or Japan, Nara period, 8th century
Taima-dera Temple, Nara

当麻曼荼羅縁起絵巻
National Treasure
Second half

The story of Princess Chūjo, who had the Taima Mandala woven with lotus threads

Illustrated Origin of the Taima Mandala, Vol. 2 (partial)

Kamakura period, 13th century
Kōmyō-ji Temple, Kanagawa
*Vol. 1 is on display in the first half

法然上人絵伝
National Treasure
Second half

This 48-volume epic tells all about the life of Hōnen!

Illustrated Biography of Master Hōnen, Vol. 6 (partial)

Kamakura period, 14th century
Chion-in Temple, Kyoto
*3 different pieces will be displayed in each half of the exhibition.

五劫思惟阿弥陀如来坐像
Important Cultural Property
Throughout the exhibition

This hairstyle symbolizes the suffering of hundreds of millions of years of struggle.

Seated Statue of Amitabha Buddha in Meditation for 5 Eons

Kamakura period, 12th–13th century Gokō-in Temple, Nara

山越阿弥陀図
National Treasure
Second half

When you chant the Nembutsu, Amitabha will rise from beyond the mountains.

Amitabha Coming over the Mountains

Kamakura period, 13th century
Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji Temple, Kyoto

阿弥陀如来立像
Important Cultural Property
First half

This Amitabha statue commemorated the first anniversary of Hōnen's death, imbued with the prayers of tens of thousands.

Standing Statue of Amitabha Buddha

Kamakura period, dated 1212
Jōdo Shū (Pure Land Sect)

善導大師立像
Throughout the exhibition

Looking up at the sky, a quiet heart, full of compassion, is chanting prayers.

Standing Statue of Master Shandao

Kamakura period, 13th century
Zendō-ji Temple, Fukuoka

阿弥陀如来立像
Throughout the exhibition

Let's go to the Pure Land of Bliss!
Amitabha Buddha will guide us there.

Standing Statue of Amitabha Buddha, known as Amitabha Looking Back

Kamakura period, 13th century
Zenkō-ji Temple, Yamagata

Strikingly vivid! 500 eccentric arhats all come together in this series of paintings.

五百羅漢図59

Second half

五百羅漢図69

First half

Five Hundred Arhats by Kanō Kazunobu

Edo period, 19th century
Zōjō-ji Temple, Tokyo
*6 different pieces will be displayed in each half of the exhibition.

大蔵経

Celebrating the registration of Zōjō-ji’s Tripitaka as a UNESCO Memory of the World!

Important Cultural Property
Throughout the exhibition

Chinese Tripitaka, Song-dynasty Edition

China, Northern–Southern Song dynasty, 12th century
Zōjō-ji Temple, Tokyo

There are 3 versions of the Tripitaka, also known as the Sandaizō, at Zōjō-ji Temple. Comprising a total of 12,000 volumes, these editions were published in China during the Song and Yuan dynasties, as well as in Korea’s Goryeo kingdom. Donated by Tokugawa Ieyasu, they have been kept at Zōjō-ji for over 400 years.

阿弥陀如来立像

Japan’s Best 3-D Nirvana

Statues of Shakyamuni Entering Nirvana with Sacred Retinue

Edo period, 17th century
Hōnen-ji Temple, Kagawa
*This exhibition will feature some of the Shakyamuni and sacred retinue statues.

Photography is OK!
特別展「法然と極楽浄土」
特別展「法然と極楽浄土」