[Exhibition Report] The Museum Yamato Bunkakan: "Art of Southern and Northern China: Ceramics, Lacquerware, and Paintings"

[Approx. 4,300 characters, approx. 60 photos]
Gakuen-mae, Nara CityI visited The Museum Yamato Bunkakan for the first time and viewed "Art of Southern and Northern China: Ceramics, Lacquerware, and Paintings". Here are my thoughts.

*This exhibition has already ended.

[What I want to convey in this post]
1) A museum that was worth visiting despite not being very well-known!, 2) An unexpectedly rich lineup including 4 National Treasures and 31 Important Cultural Properties, 3) distinctive architecture and seasonal flowers blooming on the vast grounds that soothe the soul, 4) People living in Nara should visit at least once!

▶︎ Reason for visiting

Until now, whenever works from the Yamato Bunkakan were cited in art books or borrowed for other exhibitions, I would think, "I know the name Yamato Bunkakan vaguely, but is it actually an amazing museum?"

While I was debating whether to go, thinking "I also want to visit the Fukuda Art Museum (Arashiyama, Kyoto)...", I found out that the Nakano Museum of Art near the Yamato Bunkakan was also holding an exhibition, so I decided to go (the Nakano Museum of Art is only open for about 3 months a year!).

▶︎ Access

The Yamato Bunkakan is about a 5-minute walk from Gakuen-mae Station (Nara City). There are many information signs, so I don't think you will get lost.

Address: 1-11-6 Gakuen-minami, Nara City, Nara Prefecture

▶︎ What is the Yamato Bunkakan?

Kintetsu Railway (hereinafter Kintetsu) 5th President Torao Oita wanted to create a facility along the railway line that could share the splendor of Japanese art with the world, as a company that builds railways in the historic regions of Osaka, Nara, and Mie.

Therefore, he entrusted everything to art historian Yukio Yashiro, and the Yamato Bunkakan opened in 1960 to commemorate Kintetsu's 50th anniversary. Yukio Yashiro became the first director.

Typical private museums start primarily with works collected by wealthy owners. However, the Museum Yamato Bunkakan follows a rare pattern where the collection began only after the museum's concept was established.

The museum built by Kintetsu is also famous for the Shohaku Art Museum, which mainly handles works by Shoen, Shoko, and Atsushi Uemura. Like the Museum Yamato Bunkakan, it is located near Gakuen-mae.

The collection at the Museum Yamato Bunkakan was reportedly assembled with an emphasis on aesthetic value, gathering masterpieces that represent the aesthetics of their time and region without bias. Currently, the collection exceeds 2,000 items, including 4 National Treasures and 31 Important Cultural Properties.

Yukio Yashiro believed that Eastern art looks most beautiful when placed within a "frame of nature." Therefore, the Museum Yamato Bunkakan seems to have placed the highest priority on harmony with nature. Various flowers and plants were grown and carefully maintained within the vast natural surroundings.

The building of the Museum Yamato Bunkakan (1961) was designed by Isoya Yoshida. The Gotoh Museum (Kaminoge, Tokyo, 1960), built by Tokyu Corporation, was also designed by Isoya Yoshida.

The distinctive design is said to have been inspired by Momoyama period architecture, and namako-kabe (sea cucumber walls).

National Treasures in the collection, a vast site in the middle of nature, beautiful flowers, and distinctive architecture. The Museum Yamato Bunkakan is surprisingly impressive!✨

Note that the Museum Yamato Bunkakan is written as "Bunkakan" (文華館) rather than "Bunkakan" (文化館). The reason is that when Yukio Yashiro visited the National Central Museum in Nanjing, he learned that the Bunkakan name was used. The reason is that when Yukio Yashiro visited the National Central Museum in Nanjing, he learned that the humanities and arts exhibition room was called "Bunkakan". *"Bunka" (文華) is an archaic Chinese term meaning excellent literary talent or a state where culture flourishes.

▶︎ Impressions of "Art of Southern and Northern China: Ceramics, Lacquerware, and Paintings"

In short, this is an exhibition where you can enjoy comparing art from Northern and Southern China. There are 67 pieces on display. With one exception, all are from the Yamato Bunkakan collection.

There is one exhibition room. There is a hole in the center, and you just walk around it to finish. There were about 10 visitors at any given time. I had no stress while viewing the exhibits.

First, what felt strange when I entered the exhibition hall was that I couldn't find an "introductory" panel. In most exhibitions, these are naturally placed along the visitor's path. I want to grasp the story of "what the intention of this exhibition is" before viewing the works.

After viewing a few works, I discovered the exhibition's "introductory" explanation.

It was good that it existed, but it was in a place where I thought, "Wait, here?!". Because it is important content, I think it should be placed in a location where it can be seen naturally before viewing the first work, and in a size that is easier to notice.

There were various interesting items on display. However, if this is an exhibition to enjoy the differences between Northern and Southern China, I think it would have been more educational if the sections were clearer, such as by explicitly stating where each piece was made.

The main visual bowl. It is fascinating how placing a leaf on the vessel before firing transfers the outline and veins of the leaf onto it.

There is a rest area halfway through the exhibition room. From here, you can get a good view of Sugawara Pond (commonly known as Kaerumata Pond), which is very soothing.

This is apparently a pillow from around the 12th century (looks painful...). People back then probably never imagined their pillows would be displayed in a future art museum.

Finally, the only piece not from the Yamato Bunkakan collection was displayed as a "special exhibit". "Shutchin" means to submit and display items at an exhibition or show. The meaning is exactly as the kanji suggests, but it was the first time I had seen the word at an art museum.

Overall, I thought it was a somewhat plain exhibition. It seemed like the Yamato Bunkakan has other fun exhibitions coming up, such as the Utagawa Hiroshige exhibition (starting July 9th). However, exhibitions are once-in-a-lifetime encounters. In regular exhibitions that are not special exhibitions, you can feel the uniqueness of the Yamato Bunkakan, so there was still something to be gained from it.

▼ Past permanent exhibitions I liked

While writing this note, I found it curious that every exhibit has a title. For the person who made it, the vessel was likely just "one of them," and surely there were no difficult titles for the works. If there is no title, who gives it one...?

Also, the security guards were unusually strict. If a cell phone even rang, they would come flying over, and they were persistently warning people who had just returned from outside the exhibition room as well😅

▶︎Enjoying it even after the exhibition

The fun at the Museum Yamato Bunkakan continues even after the exhibition. In June, I was able to enjoy the hydrangeas.

I thought the Museum Yamato Bunkakan is a great museum where you can enjoy not only the art, but also the garden, plants, and the building itself.

By the way, I have some familiarity with Nara. I don't think the Museum Yamato Bunkakan is very well-known in Nara. Since they have such a wonderful museum, I think they should give back its cultural value to the region more.

The Museum Yamato Bunkakan's website lists a "program for elementary school students", but updates stopped in January 2023. I think they should hold it for elementary and junior high school students at least once a month.

School events from childhood are easy to remember. It would lead to an increase in the number of visitors in the short and medium-to-long term, and deepen understanding of the museum. Isn't it an initiative that only has benefits?

▶︎Summary

What did you think? Although I had vaguely heard of "The Museum Yamato Bunkakan," it was a museum I'm glad I visited! Not only are the artworks, including national treasures, wonderful, but the nature, flowers, and architecture are also magnificent. If you live in Nara, I recommend visiting at least once, even if you aren't interested in art!

▶︎ Today's Museum Meal