Mii-dera(also known as Onjo-ji), the head temple of the Tendai Jimon sect of Buddhism, is located on a picturesque site overlooking Lake Biwa and is known for its cherry blossoms and evening bells. It is an ancient temple dating back to the Hakuho Period (late 7th century), but was restored in the early 9th century as a Tendai temple by Enchin (also known as Chisho Daishi; 814-891). At the age of 40, Enchin embarked on a spiritual journey to China with fruitful results of over 1,000 volumes of important scriptures. "The National Treasures of Mii-dera" exhibition commemorates the 1,150th anniversary of the priest's return to Japan.

In this exhibition, we present a collection of rarely displayed national treasures and Buddhist statuary that includes "Ki Fudo", renown as one of the three greatest statues of Fudo Myoo in Japan; "Seated Statue of Shinra Myoojin", the guardian deity of Mii-dera; and statues of Enchin such as "Seated Statue of Okotsu Daishi" and "Seated Statue of Chuson Daishi". Also included in the exhibition are a splendid set of partition paintings from Kangakuin Guest Hall, a subtemple in the Mii-dera complex, by Kano Mitsunobu (the son of the famous Momoyama Period painter Kano Eitoku), who died exactly 400 years ago; and "fusuma" paintings and relic from Houmyoo-in, another sub-temple, which was beloved by the famous American scholar Ernest Fenollosa, who died exactly 100 years ago.

It is our hope that visitors will take advantage of this special opportunity to view these singular examples of Esoteric Buddhist and Momoyama Period art which have been preserved through periods of both prosperity and hardship, while also gaining better understanding of Enchin's noble ambitions.