YIPAER AIERKEN - Japan and The Silk Road

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Tokyo National Museum

The Silk Road: The Silk Road consisted of routes from Rome in the West to Chang’an (Xi’an) in China. The routes continued from Chang’an to Nara, Japan. The Silk Road crossed grasslands, deserts and seas, and was used by merchants and priests. Together with silk, glass, and ceramics carried by merchants, various aspects of culture, such as production techniques and religious beliefs, also came with them.

Head of Bodhisattva. Kumtura Caves, China, Clay with polychromy, Tang dynasty, 7th - 8th century, Otani collection.

Left: 7th Century, Kizil Cave, Tang dynasty. Right: 眾人奏樂圖, Karakhoja, 10th - 11th century.

Relics box (deatail), 6th - 7th century. Kucha.

Relics box, 6th - 7th century. Kucha.

Gandharva 樂天像.

Candra (Lunar deity) 月天像

Bronze head of Buddha, from Khotan. Features like open eyes, mustache, and ears are thought to show the influence of Western culture.

Expeditions:

The Otani expeditions departed during the Meiji era (1868 - 1912), when communication and travel systems were undeveloped, and the topography and customs of the destinations were unknown. These expeditions were full of adventure: the members crossed seas, mountains and deserts to carry out excavations and surveys in unfamiliar, harsh climates. There were times when expedition members wore disguises to remain inconspicuous when transporting collected or excavated artifacts on camels or on foot. The records reveal the expeditions sometimes traveled at night to avoid the desert heat; at other times they became lost.

The Otani Expeditions Map

The Otani Expeditions:

Otani Kozui, the 22nd abbot of Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto, sent three expeditions to the Western Regions in the period from 1902 to 1914. The Western Regions corresponds to west of China, or present-day Central Asia. Whereas other countries sent expeditions to this area for political reasons, or for archaeological and anthropological research, the Otani expeditions were motivated by Buddhist devotion and fascination in a region where this religion had prospered. By tracing the route by which Buddhism came to Japan, investigating ruins, and collecting artifacts, the expeditions aimed to solve mysteries of Buddhist history and culture. The expedition records, as well as the vast amount of wooden tablets, ancient texts, murals, sculptures, textiles and other artifacts brought back to Japan, form valuable clues for understanding Buddhist history and the cultures of the Western Regions.

Paintings of Esoteric Buddhism:

Esoteric Buddhism is a major school of Buddhism that was introduced to Japan in the early 800s. According to this school, Buddhist teachings are too profound to understand through words. The monks of this school therefore rely on intricate rituals and visual representations of these teachings – such as paintings and sculptures – to achieve understanding and enlightenment.

The most fundamental paintings of this school are the Mandalas of the Two Realms, which are diagrams showing the structure of the Esoteric Buddhist pantheon. These diagrams are remarkably similar to the organization charts of modern companies as they show deities in hierarchical groupings, with each group having a specific role. Monks also used painting of individuals deities to achieve specific results. For example, they may have displayed a painting of a protective deity in a ritual meant to ensure the safety of the nation.

Heart Sutra, known as the "Sumidera Shingyo." Attributed to Kukai, Ink on paper, Nara period, 8th century.

Senju Kannon (Sahasrabhuja). Ink on paper, Heian period, 12th century, Tokyo National Museum.

Miroku (Maitreya) Mandala, Color on silk, Kamakura period, 13th century. Reiunji, Tokyo.

Kokuzo Bosatsu (Akasagarbha), Color on silk, Kamakura period, 13th century.

The bodhisattva Akasagarbha is believed to possess infinite wisdom and virtue. He is depicted here as a Shinto deity from one of Japan's sacred mountains.

Kokuzo Bosatsu (Akasagarbha), Color on silk, Kamakura period, 13th century.

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