Wisdom of Japanese-Culture of Kyoto, marks SL-Japan ties

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The exhibition, Wisdom of Japanese-Culture of Kyoto, jointly organized by the Samgha Honganji-Temple, Honganji Foundation Japan, the Municipality of Kyoto City, Japan, together with the Western Province Governor's Office in Sri Lanka and the Japanese embassy, was opened yesterday at the BMICH under the patronage of Economic Development Minister

Basil Rajapaksa.

The exhibition was organized to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka and is open to the public from July 14 to 25 between 10.00 am to 6.00 pm. Admission is free.

It is a unique exhibition featuring artefacts of both the handcraft tradition and leading edge technology-that the spirit of syncretism and harmony in Kyoto nurtured over the years.The exhibits include statues, ancient swords, tapestries,paintings sculpture, handicrafts, hand painted porcelain ware, ceremonial masks, decorated lanterns, Noh theatre costumes, Buddhist altars, ritual plates and utensils, miniature shrines, a reproduction of a painting of the Buddha attaining enlightenment, ancient court hats and a large number of other ancient items from the city of Kyoto.

Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Japan Foundation, Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts, Nichiren-shu sect are the collaborators of the exhibition.

Hoganji Temple Chief Incumbent and Hoganji Foundation President Ohtani Chojun, ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo, Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana and a large number of guests were present.