A preview was held before the special exhibition of national treasures related to Shinran, which opened the Jodo Shinshu sect, and important cultural properties began in Kyoto City on the 25th.
This event is held to commemorate the 1173th anniversary of the birth of Shinran, who opened the Jodo Shinshu sect in 850, and the Kyoto National Museum in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, where the venue is the venue, displays about 180 statues and books from the collections of each school of Jodo Shinshu.
Of these, the book "Kyogyo Shinsho" handed down to Higashi Honganji, the main mountain of the Shinshu Otani school, was written by Shinran himself during the Kamakura period by interpreting and summarizing the teachings of Buddha, and is designated as a national treasure.
There are traces of Shinran rewriting it many times, suggesting that Shinran continued to search for it until the end of his life.
In addition, the portrait of Shinran, which is said to have been painted by the Muromachi period monk Renyo, is in the possession of Nishi Honganji, the main temple of the Jodo Shinshu Honganji school, and is designated as a national treasure.
In addition to this, Shinran's handwritten letters and Buddhist statues related to Shinran are also exhibited, and Shinran is introduced from various angles.
Tomohide Uesugi, a researcher at the Kyoto National Museum, said, "Many people have been attracted to Shinran's ideas since ancient times, and I think that even people who do not believe in Jodo Shinshu can enjoy it, so I would like many people to come and celebrate Shinran's 850th birthday."
This special exhibition is open until May 5.