Starting from Dec. 20 (Sat.), a special exhibition of “Japanese Buddhist Art” co-hosted with Nara National Museum (Japan), will be opened at the Gyeong-ju National Museum. 

Korea and Japan has each formed an indigenous cultural basis with its old history, while continuously maintaining contact with the advanced civilization through China and developed each country’s cultures. Therefore a unique aesthetic sense from Korea and Japan is distinguished from Chinese Buddhist artwork. And since there aren’t much opportunities to experience Japanese Buddhist art in Korea, research on the specific field can only be limited. Gyeong-ju National Museum has concluded an agreement on academic exchange with the Nara National Museum, Japan, in 1999, and has proceeded with exchanging information and research materials. 

Artwork to be on exhibit at the special exhibition is masterpieces that represent Japanese Buddhist art. Artwork that holds the national sentiment and emotion of Japan, from the Aseuka age up to the Gamakura age, includes gilt bronze and wooden images of Buddha, sculptures, paintings, metal craft and classical books. Among the 83 artwork pieces, 8 are national treasures and 26 are important cultural assets. The exhibition is significant because it is the first large-scaled “oversea cultural property to be exhibited domestically” by a provincial museum. 

The special exhibition is divided into 5 divisions, Buddhism sculptures, Buddhism paintings, classical records, Buddhism handicraft and archaeological specimens and will be exhibited by historical order. 

Source: Ministry of Culture ＆ Tourism, December 11, 2003