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Organized by Miho Museum and Kyoto Shimbun. Supported by Shiga Prefecture, Shiga Prefectural Board of Education, and NHK Otsu. THIS AUTUMN, Miho Museum proudly presents a three-part exhibition on Japanese art in the North Hall. See the dawn of Japanese civilization, starting with the Yayoi Period and Haniwa Figurines. Find the roots of Japan through the warm, rustic earthen colors reminiscent of a spring dawn or autumn sunset. The following display, Forms of Prayer, features religious art such as Buddhist and Shinto statues, Buddhist applied arts, and sacred shrine treasures from the Nara (710-794) to Heian (794-1192) periods. Buddhism, which was first introduced to Japan from Korea and China in the sixth century, spread rapidly throughout the Japanese archipelago, syncretizing with the indigenous belief in the native gods. This section shows how these forms of spirituality have deeply penetrated the life of the Japanese. In the last section is a display named after this exhibition, Japanese Designs Celebrating Autumn. Many art works have been left to us by the early Japanese, who were captivated by the beauty of nature, which gives us wondrous forms throughout the year. Nameless artisans created various artifacts through years of observing natural phenomenon, so much so that these works themselves can be called a compendium of seasonal words celebrating the sublime Japanese autumn.

Standing Kannon (Skt., Avalokitesvara) Kôfuku-ji Temple, Thousand Buddhas Heian period, 12th century

The Yayoi Period and Haniwa Figurines	Jar Haji ware with tan red pigments Early Kofun period, 4th century
Head of Small Child Kofun period, 6th century

Forms of Prayer
Drum Cylinder with Thunder and Lightning Makie Decoration Muromachi period, 15th century

	Japanese Designs Celebrating Autumn
	Red Maple Leaves By Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743) Edo period, 18th century
Autumn Plants By Sakai Hôitsu (1761-1828) Edo period, 18th-19th century

Writing Desk with Ivy-coverd Path Momoyama period, 16th century

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