{"id":2509,"date":"2026-06-06T19:11:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T10:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mediaartleague.org\/en\/?p=2509"},"modified":"2026-06-21T08:30:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T23:30:41","slug":"media-art-message-no-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mediaartleague.org\/en\/blog\/media-art-message-no-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Media + Art = Message No.16: Quest for the wisdom of our forebears seeking global harmony\u2015Miro Ito\u2019s H\u014dry\u016b-ji photo exhibition at the University of Salamanca in Spain runs until 19 June 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"🔸\"Quest for the wisdom of our forebears seeking global harmony<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a world fraught with uncertainty, one way to continue to inspire a yearning for peace is by learning from the wisdom and achievements of those who came before us.\u00a0A<\/span>ft<\/span>er personally experiencing the 9\/11 terrorist attacks in New York,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I sought<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>such wisdom from my forebears<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in Japan.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The achievements of Prince Sh<\/span>\u014dtoku\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>aka\u00a0<\/span>Prince Umayado, 574<\/span>\u2013622)<\/span>\u2014<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0sa<\/span>ge<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>synonymous\u00a0<\/span>with the origins of Japanese culture\u2014<\/span>soon<\/span>\u00a0emerged as a central theme<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"🔸\"<\/strong>First\u00a0<\/span><\/b>overseas<\/span><\/b>\u00a0photography exhibition featuring<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Horyu-ji<\/span><\/b>\u2019<\/span><\/b>s National Treasures<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The photographic exhibition\u00a0\u2018Historical Significance of H\u014dry\u016b-ji Temple and Prince Sh\u014dtoku<\/em>\u2019\u00a0(by MIRO ITO\/Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative & Media Art League) is\u00a0ongoing\u00a0at\u00a0the Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center,\u00a0University of Salamanca in Spain until 19 June\u00a02026.\u00a0This exhibition, the first overseas exhibition featuring H\u014dry\u016b-ji\u2019s National Treasures\u00a0(in\u00a0a luxurious\u00a0hanging-scroll\u00a0photography\u00a0format, opened on 17 March to mark the 25th Salamanca Japanese Culture Week<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Prince Sh\u014dtoku: Scene from “Historical Significance of H\u014dry\u016b-ji Temple and Prince Sh\u014dtoku” (short film by Miro Ito, English version)<\/p><\/div>\n

\"🔸\"H\u014d<\/strong>ry<\/strong>\u016b-ji<\/strong>:\u00a0the Cradle of Japanese art<\/strong><\/p>\n

The H\u014dry\u016b-ji is renowned for having the world\u2019s oldest surviving ensemble of wooden buildings and is the first site in Japan to be designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. This invaluable collection of Buddhist art, that includes numerous National Treasures and designated cultural property that epitomise the cultural zenith of East Asia during the 7th century (the Asuka period). Drawing on Buddhist art from China and the Korean Peninsula, thes artistic masterpieces\u2014which underwent uniquely Japanese refinements\u2014are regarded as the cradle of Japanese art and artisanship.<\/p>\n

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The exhibition hall\u2014the only one in the world allowed to bear the name of Empress Michiko\u2014is adorned with photographs of her and retired Emperor Emeritus Akihito (Photo: Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative)<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"🔸\"National Treasure<\/strong>\u00a0Masterpieces of the 7th century<\/strong><\/p>\n

The National Treasures featured in this exhibition are represented by two life-size statues of Prince Sh\u014dtoku\u2014both considered to be\u00a0\u2018hidden Buddha\u2019\u00a0statues: a Kannon of Salvation from the Asuka period (early to mid-7th century) and a statue of Prince Sh\u014dtoku\u00a0(Regent\u00a0Statue, 1122) created 500 years after his death\u00a0in\u00a0622\u00a0CE.<\/p>\n

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A view of the exhibition \u201cLa importancia hist\u00f3rica del templo H\u014dry\u016b-ji y el pr\u00edncipe Sh\u014dtoku\u201d: Hidden Statue of Kuse Kannon (left) and Hidden Statue of Prince Shotoku (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kuse Kannon: Scene from “Historical Significance of H\u014dry\u016b-ji Temple and Prince Sh\u014dtoku” (short film by Miro Ito, English version)<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kudara Kannon: Scene from: \u2018Historical Significance of H\u014dry\u016b-ji Temple and Prince Sh\u014dtoku’ (short film by Miro Ito)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kudara Kannon statue,\u00a0exhibited at the Louvre in 1997, and the Yumechigai Kannon (lit. Dream Changer) statue,\u00a0exhibited at the British Museum in 2019, also add to the exhibition\u2019s appeal.\u00a0Two\u00a0more\u00a0important statues\u2014the two-year-old and the sixteen-year-old\u00a0Prince Sh\u014dtoku\u2014which were created\u00a0as\u00a0Prince Sh\u014dtoku\u2019s beliefs spread, are Important Cultural\u00a0Property from Gang\u014d-ji (formerly H\u014dk\u014d-ji), Japan\u2019s first Buddhist temple.<\/p>\n

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Prospectus: La importancia hist\u00f3rica del templo H\u014dry\u016b-ji y el pr\u00edncipe Sh\u014dtoku<\/p><\/div>\n

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A view of the exhibition \u201cLa importancia hist\u00f3rica del templo H\u014dry\u016b-ji y el pr\u00edncipe Sh\u014dtoku\u201d: Prince Sh\u014dtoku statues of H\u014drry\u016b-ji and Gang\u014dr-ji Temples (far right and third from right) (Photo: Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative)<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"🔸\"Prince Sh\u014dtoku\u2019s aspirations for peace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having created the basis of Japan as a nation in terms of social system, religion, philosophy, education and fine arts; Prince Sh\u014dtoku embodies the origins of Japan\u2019s culture. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to view global treasures that showcase the finest examples of 7th-century East Asian art\u2014not only from Japan but from across the region\u2014in the context of\u00a0Prince Sh\u014dtoku\u2019s aspirations for peace,\u00a0dating\u00a0back more than 1,400 years.<\/p>\n

Artist\/creator MIRO ITO, obtained special permission from the H\u014dry\u016b-ji and invested 20 years to take these photographs and videos.The exhibition will be open until\u00a019th\u00a0June\u00a02026,\u00a0and the public is welcome to\u00a0view it in\u00a0the Hall of Her Empress Michiko\u00a0(Palace of San Boal)\u00a0at the University of Salamanca\u2014Europe\u2019s fourth-oldest university\u2014at\u00a0the heart of the World\u00a0Cultural\u00a0Heritage city of Salamanca.<\/p>\n

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La importancia hist\u00f3rica del templo H\u014dry\u016b-ji y el pr\u00edncipe Sh\u014dtoku <\/em><\/strong>(The Historical Significance of H\u014dry\u016b-ji and Prince Sh\u014dtoku<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Centro Cultural Hispano Japon\u00e9s (Universidad de Salamanca)<\/p>\n

Dates: 16th March to 19th June 2026<\/p>\n

Opening hours: Monday to Friday (11:00 AM to 1:45 PM, 5:30 PM to 8:45 PM)<\/p>\n

Address: Pl. de San Boal, 13, 37002 Salamanca, Spain<\/p>\n

Tel: +34 923 29 45 60<\/p>\n

URL: https:\/\/www.centrojapones.es\/exposicion-templo-horyuji-2026\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Organised by: The Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center, University of Salamanca\uff08Centro Cultural Hispano Japon\u00e9s, Universidad de Salamanca)<\/div>\n
Co-organised by: Japan Camera Industry Institute, Japan Authentic Heritage Initiative<\/div>\n
Concept and Production: Media Art League Photo permits by: H\u014dry\u016b-ji Temple<\/div>\n
Photography, text and video by: Miro Ito<\/div>\n
English editing by: Andreas Boettcher<\/div>\n
Spanish editing by: The Spanish-Japanese Cultural Center, University of Salamanca<\/div>\n
Endorsed by: Embassy of Japan in Spain; Japan Foundation, Madrid<\/div>\n
Production of cine-poetry: Nara Prefecture Funded by: The Tokyo Club<\/div>\n

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\"🔸\"More Information<\/strong><\/p>\n

JAPAN AUTHENTIC HERITAGE<\/strong> (previous blog)<\/p>\n

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JUST LAUNCHED\u2014A project to spread Prince Shotoku’s ideal of harmony around the world<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n