“Nara – The Beginning of Faith and Beauty in Japan” (special cooperation from Asahi Shimbun, sponsored by Nara Prefecture, The British Museum), where precious treasures held by temples and shrines in Nara Prefecture are exhibited at the British Museum in London The day began. On the evening of the 2nd, the Nara monk operated the law in the exhibition space of the British Museum, and Miko from Kasuga Taisha performed kagura. Buddhist statues of national treasures were exhibited, and the atmosphere of the ancient city of Nara began to drift in London.
Todai-ji Temple, Tosho-ji Temple, Toshodai-ji Temple, and Yakushi-ji Temple, in the evening of Todai-ji Temple, which were ready for display on the evening of the 2nd About 10 monks from Saidaiji Temple gathered. While the museum officials, Koji Tsuruoka, and Ambassador to Britain watched over, the monks wore scatter (paper that shaped like a petal of a lotus and lotus petals), and the Todaiji Temple Sagawa Fumon Betsuto (President ) Read out the wishes for the exhibition's safety (Hyobaku, the purpose of the law), and then the monks chanted the sutras.
Sasakawa Besoto said, “Even if the religion is different, the culture created by the same person has something that appeals directly. “I want you to feel the pacifist philosophy that we Buddhists need most from the treasures on display,” said Elder Akihiko Nishiyama (resident) at Toshodaiji Temple.
Subsequently, a shrine maiden at Kasuga Grand Shrine performed Kagura. The sound of the whistle reverberated, and an elegant dance was shown in front of the middle gate of Kasuga Grand Shrine. Hanayama-in Hirohiro Miyaji said, “(I heard from an Englishman who saw Kagura)“ I was touched by tears. ”It was an opportunity to understand the essence of Japanese Shinto even a little. I said.
The British Museum's director, Hartwig Fischer, said, “Even though I didn't understand the words of Kaho and Kagura, the spirituality was conveyed to everyone who saw it. The British Museum is a place where many people from all over the world visit. I can definitely feel my spirituality. "
The British Museum includes five national treasures ...