The ‘Road of Light and Hope’ photography exhibition of Tōdai-ji’s National Treasures (by MIRO ITO) opened on 29 September, at the University of Salamanca in Spain. After being held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in May 2016, this is its13th venue in 11 countries on world tour.

 

This exhibition promotes the all-encompassing worldview of the Huayan (Kegon in Japanese) philosophy, which holds that ‘all things are interconnected and everything is linked as one’. Around 1,300 years ago, in a time of national crisis, when Japan suffered major earthquakes and famines while smallpox was rampant, Emperor Shōmu issued an imperial edict in 743 CE ordering the construction of the Great Buddha—as a catalyst of national unity.

Over half of the nation’s estimated 5 million population heeded Shōmu’s appeal to help create the statue: ‘even with just a single stem of straw and a handful of earth’.

 

That nothing in this world exists in isolation; that everything is infinitely interconnected and interrelated; that all things are one—this message should be embraced by all as something extremely important that we can do in our everyday lives. Even though the empathy of one individual may only be a tiny ripple, it can resonate through the whole world as through a tuning fork.

 

Unraveling the History of East-West Exchange: From National Treasures to Important Cultural Properties, including hidden Buddhist statues

Another focus of this exhibition is to trace the history of East-West cultural exchange and highlight the commonalities between East and West as well as North and South within cultures.

 

During the golden age of the Tang Dynasty (712–765), centered on the reign of Emperor Xuanzong and known as the ‘High Tang’, the capital of Chang’an saw the blossoming of a culture of unprecedented international diversity, fueled by trade along the Silk Road. This remarkable international character and diversity were also introduced to Heijō-kyō (710–794), Japan’s imperial capital at the time. Today, Nara, along with Chang’an (Xi’an) across the sea, are known as the ‘easternmost terminus of the Silk Road

 

In this exhibition, we explore the points of convergence between the zeniths of Eastern and Western aesthetic traditions, as seen in a collection of 8th-century National Treasure Buddhist statues (Japanese National Treasures), which were photographed with special permission from Tōdai-ji Temple. These include the hidden statue of Vajrapani in the Hokke-dō, which has its origins in Hercules, and the Four Heavenly Kings statues in the Kaidan-dō, which follow the realistic style of classical Greek art, and the statues traditionally attributed to Nikkō and Gakkō (representing Indra and Brahma), which were originally part of the same ensemble: an impressive collection of masterpieces of Nara-period clay-sculpture

 

Furthermore, an ancient Greek historian once pointed out that the statue of the Bodhisattva Fukūkensaku Kannon (Sanskrit: Amoghapāśa) in the Hokke-dō is also linked to Hercules through its association with the god Shiva.

 

In addition, the Eleven-Headed Bodhisattva statue (11~12 centuries), the principal image enshrined in the Shigatsu-dō Hall at Tōdai-ji, and the Thousand-Armed Kannon statue (13 century)—a secret statue enshrined in the Senjūdō Hall—also add a unique touch to the exhibition.

 

The exhibits also include such photographs as the 8^th century Gagaku masks from Tōdai-ji—which bring together performing arts and folk traditions from along the Oasis Route—as well as the 12 century Bugaku masks—a collection of court performing arts from along the Maritime Silk Road—belonging to the Kasuga-Taisha Shrine; both sites are part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site: Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.

 

The masterpieces of the Buddhist sculpture art of the 8th century of Daian-ji and Shōrin-ji will be also added in the coming venue in Salamanca. Furthermore, a new short film by Miro Ito will be screened on site (in Spanish): The Vairocana Buddha of Tōdai-ji Temple: Formation of Cosmic Life-Force and Light of Wisdom.

 

Opening Ceremony

The National Treasures featured in this exhibition are represented by two life-size statues of Prince Shōtoku—both considered to be ‘hidden Buddha’ statues: a Kannon of Salvation from the Asuka period (early to mid-7th century) and a statue of Prince Shōtoku (Regent Statue, 1122) created 500 years after his death in 622 CE.

The Kudara Kannon statue, exhibited at the Louvre in 1997, and the Yumechigai Kannon (lit. Dream Changer) statue, exhibited at the British Museum in 2019, also add to the exhibition’s appeal. Two more important statues—the two-year-old and the sixteen-year-old Prince Shōtoku—which were created as Prince Shōtoku’s beliefs spread, are Important Cultural Property from Gangō-ji (formerly Hōkō-ji), Japan’s first Buddhist temple.

 

Dates: 29th September to 18th December 2026

Opening hours: Monday to Friday (11:00 AM to 1:45 PM, 5:30 PM to 8:45 PM)

Address: Pl. de San Boal, 13, 37002 Salamanca, Spain

Tel: +34 923 29 45 60

Organised by: Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center, University of Salamanca（Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés, Universidad de Salamanca)

Co-organised by: Media Art League + Japan Camera Industry Institute

Concept and Production: Media Art League

Photo permits by: Tōdai-ji, Daian-ji, Shōrin-j Temples; Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, Nara National Museum

Photography, text and video by: Miro Ito

English editing by: Andreas Boettcher

Spanish editing by: Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center, University of Salamanca

Endorsed by: Embassy of Japan in Spain; Japan Foundation, Madrid

More Information

FUNDACIÓN JAPÓN MADRID

On 25th February 2024, a lecture and film-screening event, in commemoration of 45 years China-Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty, was held in Tokyo’s Hibiya Library and Museum. Entitled “Co-existing & Co-creating across Time and Space”, it was successfully hosted by the JACCCO (Japan Asian Community Culture Cooperation Organization) with the able support of a diverse roster of participants.

After an opening greeting from former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (Chair of JACCCO), the main theme of Kegon (Huayan) Buddhist philosophy was discussed by Zen Master Nanrei Yokota (Engaku-ji Temple in Kamakura), followed by my lecture and short-film about Todai-ji Temple’s Great Buddha (Nara) and Kegon Thought—I was able to summarise the past 20 years of my involvement with these themes.

Iconography of cosmic light as enlightenment

All things in the cosmos are inextricably interrelated—pratitya-samuputpada（immense knowledge of dependence of originating）—the essence of Kegon philosophy lies in the unity and cohesion of everyone and everything in the universe.

The flora and fauna; pebbles and planets; from the atom to the solar system; humankind and the world; the universe and the individual：indeed all is one and one is all.

The Buddha (literally: the enlightened one) is the Great Buddha itself; each of the lotus petals of its pedestal is engraved with a magnificent cosmic image of Buddha conceived 2500 years ago.

My presentation illustrated the drama of self-transformation through meditation and the wisdom that leads to a veritable cosmology embodied by the Great Buddha statue of Tōdai-ji Temple.

Living in an age of tremendous turmoil

There was also a panel discussion with Zen Master Nanrei and myself, as well as Yuji Miyamoto, former Japanese Ambassador to China and Director of JACCCO, and Kiyoyuki Seguchi, Board Member of JACCCO—about our collective need to seek a guiding light based on Kegon philosophy—amidst the ongoing tremendous turmoil in the world today. All participants unanimously agreed on the importance of not straying from the path.

It was a meaningful forum for exchanging opinions from a variety of viewpoints such as religions, philosophy, politics and diplomacy.

Spring board to the next 20 years

To date, exhibitions and screenings of my work related to Todai-ji and the Great Buddha have been held around the world, including at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the National Museum of World Cultures in Mexico City as well as the Byzantine & Christian Museum in Athens. Continuing this trajectory, the event last Sunday in Tokyo marked a new starting point for me for the next 20 years.

Indeed we have been planning to make a film on Kegon philosophy to promote global solidarity for a long time. Beginning this year, we would like to proceed to realise it.

We thank you for your interest and look forward to working with you.

Miro Ito

Media Art League/Japanese Authentic Heritage Initiative

Text and Images (C) Miro Ito/Media Art League. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

16 years have now passed since the events of 9/11.

Faced with deepening divisions and strife among mankind, more frequent natural disasters as climate-change accelerates and ever-growing floods of refugees, what can we really do to make a difference? Through art I am attempting to show that it is more important than ever, for us to realize that we all are one and that everything and everyone is interconnected

Our latest exhibition, ”Road of Light and Hope: National Treasures of Todaiji Temple, Nara – Photographs by Miro Ito” concluded on 28th June 2017 at the Japan Foundation, Toronto, after a successful 3 month run from 15th March. The next venue will be the Japan Information Center at the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago from 1st to 28th Nov. 2017

With the special assistance of the Todai-ji Temple, and co-organized by the Japan Foundation Toronto, Media Art League and Japan Camera Industry Institute (as well as Japan’s Consulate-General in Chicago [from 1st Nov. 2017]), this exhibition attempts to share the universality of the ancient teaching that we ourselves are the universe.

 

Reflections on the flow of life…

Although, the scale of the universe is beyond our imagination, once we realize that our bodies are unto themselves a microcosm containing a universe in each of their tiny constituent cells, the universe’s interconnectedness becomes more tangible. 

Through this awareness we might end up with an alternative option: to consider the living universe (including Mother Earth that supports all life activities) as synonymous with our own “life”, and respect it and live in harmony.  Or to continue to essentially see this green planet as a “resource” to exploit, pollute and ultimately devastate. Needless to say, destruction will in turn only bring disharmony to our earth and interrupt the circle of life.

Rightfully, one is all and all is one, a holistic notion is postulated in the Neoplatonic philosophy of ancient Greece. In the common way, the teachings of Kegon-kyo (Japan’s iteration of Hua-yen Buddhism), that form the spiritual foundation of the Great Buddha Statue being erected in Nara in the 8th century, tells us that an infinite universe of galactic proportions is contained in an infinitesimal one.

Once we realize of that everything is interconnected and cyclical within life’s flow of the universe, the awareness of such issues as environmental preservation and climate change grows, in addition to overcome segmentation on the global level.

 

Chicago-bound — after successful conclusion in Toronto

On the occasion of the Artist’s Talk, 26th May, the auditorium of the Japan Foundation Toronto was filled and three movie shorts of mine were shown, such as “The Great Buddha Lives!”, “Life of Masks, as well as “Gigaku: Road of Masks”. With the people present on this occasion, I could share the message that we can learn from the spiritual heritage from the Silk Road transcending 1300 years of time and space; all is one, and all is interconnected.

Hopefully, visitors will attain a new awareness for the common origins of sculpting as seen in Japanese National Treasures of 1300 years ago and in Hellenistic art in the eastern Mediterranean and Mid-Eastern world around 2000 years ago.

While expressing my heartfelt gratitude for all supporting entities as well as visitors to this touring exhibition series, starting from the UN Headquarters in NY, via Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, the Council of the Europe (and the Lieu d’Europe), and for its new success in Toronto and then goes to Chicago, I truly hope we can work together towards the idea of a unified world, to which my art activities have been dedicated for the last 16 years since the 9/11 that I experienced in NY.

Hopefully, a time of unity will finally come after so much turmoil in the universe and amongst humankind: between humankind and nature, between human and human ….

The official press release for the next exhibition in Chicago will follow shortly.

Miro Ito

Initiator of Media Art League

 

Road of Light and Hope: National Treasures of Todai-ji Temple, Nara

Photographs by Miro Ito

The photo exhibition “Road of Light and Hope: National Treasures of Todai-ji Temple, Nara” opened 15^th March at the Japan Foundation Toronto where it will be on display until 28^th June 2017. This exhibition collects representative photographic images of artifacts of the Todai-ji —collected throughout its eventful 1300 year history— especially those that are evidence of cultural cross-pollination between east and west.

This evidence can be seen from two perspectives:

One is against the background of the construction of the Todai-ji’s Great Buddha (Vairocana) that symbolizes all the interconnectedness. The other is the cosmopolitanism of the Tenpyo era (729-749) sculptures with their traces of Hellenistic influences —conveyed to Japan via the Silk Road— evident in their features.

With the special permission and cooperation of Todai-ji Temple, and the kind offices of Japan Camera Industry Institute (JCII), Media Art League and the Japan Foundation Toronto are co-presenting this exhibition, comprising 41 photographic hanging scrolls of national treasures and important cultural assets, and 30 framed photographs. Since 2004, I have been photographically documenting these cultural testaments seeking to build bridges between east and west, adopting the ideals that I have learned from the history of the Todai-ji and its founder, Emperor Shomu.

 

Light of reconstruction and hope

About thirteen centuries ago during the Nara era, the great Vairocana Buddha statue of Todaiji Temple was erected at a time that frequently saw unprecedented natural disasters like huge earthquakes, droughts, famines and epidemics. Some 4.5 million citizens came together to help fund this undertaking. Under the slogan, “every single blade of straw or handful of soil helps”, Emperor Shomu called for everyone from all corners of the land to contribute to the best of their ability. Tens of thousands of people provided their labour enabling the huge statue to be completed in the year 752. 

The project provided encouragement, stability and employment to the people at a time when they were disheartened and burdened by repeated heavy disasters.

From its completion to modern times, the giant Buddha statue faced numerous earthquakes and wars during which it was twice destroyed. Each time, the citizens performed miraculous reconstruction work. Consequently, the giant Buddha has become a powerful symbol of Japan’s hope and resilience.

Concurrently, it is also a symbol of solidarity and interdependence in keeping with the Hua-yen Buddhist tenet that governs the universe: “all is one and one is all”.

In fact, while the traditions embraced by the Todai-ji are considered by many to be the quintessence of the Japanese psyche, I am endeavouring to share and convey these, through my photographs, across borders and cultures.

 

The road to world peace goes ever on…

Now, in March 2017, it has been six years since Japan’s triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor catastrophe), yet ever more mega-disasters as well as regional conflicts and religious strife appear to be threatening the world order.  Against this background, it is ever more important for us to seek to restore a semblance of peace by genuinely attempting to empathize and share with the growing multitudes of disadvantaged and vulnerable people around the globe.

It is thus a great honour and pleasure for me to send my humble appeal for solidarity among all living beings to the people of Canada, in the spirit of the emperor Shomu, who prayed that all flora and fauna would prosper with the completion of Japan’s first great Buddha statue.

The world traveling exhibition “Road of Light and Hope: The Eurasian Trail of Wisdom (Σοφια) — between East and West—“ began at the United Nations HQ in New York last May, and was followed up by exhibitions at the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan in Tashkent and at the Council of Europe HQ as well as le Lieu d’ Europe in Strasbourg in 2016 has now reached Canada, where it will be presented in Toronto at the gallery of the Japan Foundation (albeit, with a different sub-title: “National Treasures of Todai-ji Temple, Nara”) from 15^th March to 28^th June.

On the 26th of May, I will go to Toronto to hold a lecture accompanied by a screening of short movies on the topic. 

For details of the exhibition, please refer to the Japan Foundation [Toronto] website: http://jftor.org/event/national-treasures-of-todai-ji-temple/2017-03-15/ 

 

20th March 2017

Miro Ito

artist/author, producer (art & culture)

Media Art League