Spring Special Exhibition

March 18 - June 11
Beauty in Prayer
"Universal Symphony"
The origin of the word “prayer” (inori) is a declaration of life, signifying gratitude for being alive. Since ancient times, people have held a sense of awe and respect toward the divine, Buddha-nature, and other existences in the natural world that transcend human understanding. They have offered prayers as a means of communicating with the divine and transcendent, using the bounties of the earth such as trees, stones, gold, silver, copper, and other minerals to give them visible form. If the prayers were pure, perhaps beautiful spirits could be discovered in the forms that were created.
Since its opening, MIHO MUSEUM has been collecting and exhibiting artworks from Japan and the Eastern and Western civilizations of the Asian continent. As you go through galleries in the South Wing filled with ancient art, against a background of nature, and in the North Wing featuring Japanese art, primarily from our special exhibition, you will feel as if you are resonating with the beautiful prayers of East and West.
Highlighting Universal Symphony, a large piece made of decorative karakami paper, which was created as a prayer for world peace, the current exhibition introduces selected Eastern and Western works from the museum’s collection, that embrace prayers from different places and periods. This exhibition also features eighty-four works, including eight on exhibit for the first time. These objects consist of those that were made in awe of nature and the gods of
ancient civilizations based on beliefs in sacred beasts and sacred trees, sculptures of Shinto deities and buddhas who were the objects of prayer for the Japanese, ritual objects related to the Shuni-e (water-drawing ceremony) at Tōdaiji Temple, and paintings that depict objects of prayer in everyday life. We hope this exhibition will become an opportunity to think about world peace, the universal hope of humankind, and that you will enjoy the beautiful symphony of East and West, performed by prayers of beauty.
Information
- Exhibition Term
- March 18, 2023 - June 11, 2023
- Open Hours
- 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (last entry: 4:00 pm)
- Closed Days
- Every Monday (or next business day if Monday is a national holiday)
- Admission Fees
- [Adults] 1,300 yen [High school/university students] 1,000 yen [Elementary/junior high school students] Free
- Venue
- North Wing
- Audio Guides
- There
※Objects are subject to change during exhibition period.
Exhibition Highlights

Five-tiered Reliquary
Heian period, 12th century

Cypress Fan
Muromachi period, 14th–15th century

Enmaten Heian period, 12th century
On display: April 18–May 14

Goblet with Bulls
Northwestern Iran, 12th–11th century BC

Head of Pharaoh, possibly Amenhotep III
Egypt, early 14th century BC

Stag Rhyton
Greek, ca. 4th century BC

Ritual Tray
Kamakura period, Einin 6 (1298)

Mt. Fuji and Miho no Matsubara Screens (detail)
By Soga Shōhaku; Edo period, 18th century
Exhibition Galleries
Spring Special Exhibition
Beauty in Prayer
"Universal Symphony"
Exhibits
North Wing
Spring Special Exhibition
Beauty in Prayer
"Universal Symphony"
Please click here for the list of works.
I. Prayer East and West
II. Protection of Sacred Animals
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Cup with Vultures and Gazelles
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Goblet with Bulls
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Lynx Rhyton
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Rhyton with a Horned-lion Protome
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A pair of Recumbent Oxen
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A pair of Recumbent Oxen
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Female Figure
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You in the shape of Owls
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Incense Burner in the Shape of a Tortoise
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Male Figure
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Vessel in the shape of a winged bull
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Rhyton with a horse protome
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Mask
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Cup with a bird's head
III. The Trees of Life
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Cup on Small Foot with Horned Animals and Trees
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Vessel
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Relief of a Kneeling Deity
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Wall Hanging with a Tree of Life,Birds,and Animals
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Elliptical Bowl with a Vine Scroll
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Ewer with a Plant Design
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Fresco Fragment with Cupid
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Pectoral
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Bowl
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Vessel with ibex and palmettes
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Stag Rhyton
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Cylindrical cup with animals
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Boat with sacred trees
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Plate with Banquet Scene under a Tree
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Fresco Fragment with Psyche