Todaiji unveils museum to show ancient treasures

Kyodo

NARA — The Buddhist temple Todaiji, a World Heritage site in the city of Nara, opened a museum Monday to exhibit its Buddha statues and other historic art.

In the light: A statue of Fuku Kenjaku Kannon bodhisattva is one of the main exhibits at the Todaiji museum that opened Monday at the temple in the city of Nara. KYODO

First conceived 30 years ago, the museum provides the temple with an open facility to show its numerous treasures.

The five-room facility has an exhibition floor of about 600 sq. meters and is located in the temple's cultural center near the Great Buddha Hall. The main exhibits include sunlight, moonlight and Fuku Kenjaku Kannon bodhisattva statues.

"I had thought Buddha statues would look better in temples, but they were more beautiful than I had imagined," said the museum's first visitor, Hideki Nakamura, a 42-year-old writer.

The admission fee is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for elementary school students.

JAPAN TIMES