29.07.2010
Heaven and Hell in Japanese Art
Boston, Massachusetts (USA)
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
14 August 2010 – 1 May 2011
Japanese images of heaven and hell range from depictions of serene paradises to grotesque realms of punishment. Heaven, situated in a land of bliss where devotees are reborn to reside with Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light, is typically represented by luxurious palaces, jeweled trees, and tranquil ponds. Hell, with scenes of fire, torture, and suffering, is the destination awaiting those who fail to follow the sacred precepts of Buddhism. The concepts of the afterlife are derived from ancient Buddhist scriptures, and they have impacted morality, spirituality, and behavior up until the present day.
Heaven and Hell in Japanese Art features several Edo-period (1615–1868) Buddhist paintings that have rarely been exhibited. It also highlights a recent loan of a monumental 18th-century sculpture of Amida and his atttendants descending on swirling clouds to the faithful.
The museum’s website
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Avenue of the Arts
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5597
Tel: ( 1) 617 267 93 00
Source: Culture Kiosque
