The head of the Buddha statue on display was reflected in the glass, like an alter-ego technique

Buddhist statues on display in the Asian Gallery of the Tokyo National Museum — Buddhist statues on display in the Toyokan

Although they share the same name, the Toyokan in Asakusa and the Toyokan in Ueno are quite different. Whereas the Toyokan in Asakusa is about cultural things done by people who are alive today, the Toyokan in Ueno is about cultural things made by people who were alive in the past. This is one of the facilities at the Tokyo National Museum. Once inside, there is no seating or stage, and the first thing that greets you is Buddha statues. The statues were created by someone who lived in China a long time ago, and are now on display in Tokyo, transcending time and place.

Some of the Buddha images are displayed in glass cases, while others are left unenclosed. Either way, they must have once sat in a temple, but for whatever reason they are now in a dimly lit museum. It may be the same now as it was in the past, when a large number of people stand in front of the museum, but there are no people holding their hands together here. All they do is read a little explanatory text and admire the statues. The Buddhist statues displayed in the museum seem to be more of a work of art than an object of faith. However, if a money box were placed here, I have a feeling that quite a few people would make a donation.

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