40th Anniversary Exhibition of Masterpieces, Part 1

The MOA Museum of Art, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has a collection centered on Oriental art, particularly Japanese and Chinese art, collected by its founder, Mokichi Okada (1882-1955).
Among them, the National Treasure "Red and White Plum Blossoms Screen" is highly regarded as Korin's greatest masterpiece, featuring white and red plum blossoms facing each other against a gold background in a pair of two-panel screens, with stylized plum blossoms and flowing water creating a decorative picture.

In commemoration of the museum's 40th anniversary, this exhibition will simultaneously display three national treasures: "Red and White Plum Blossoms Screen," "Colored Wisteria Design Tea Jar" by Nonomura Ninsei, a master of Kyoto ware, and "Hanbokujo," a hand-painted katakana (castle of ink and ink), renowned as one of the three major katakana (castles of the Great East Japan Sea), as well as a carefully selected collection of masterpieces representing each genre, including "Beauty Under a Tree," "Fragments of the Causal Sutra of Past and Present," and "Standing Statue of the Bodhisattva of Mercy." Take your time to appreciate the essence of Japanese and Oriental art in Atami, where the scent of plum blossoms fills the air.

◆Main exhibits◆

National Treasure "Red and White Plum Blossoms Screen" by Ogata Korin
It is well known that Korin, a great admirer of Sōtatsu, developed his own unique style while being inspired by his work. This style is exemplified by the theme of red and white plum blossoms accompanied by flowing water, and the composition of the two-panel screen, which combines the two panels. However, the composition—hiding most of the trunk of the white plum tree off the canvas, filling the entire canvas with the red plum blossoms, creating a subtle contrast between the two, and placing the flowing water in the center, creating a delicate, flaring surface—can be considered original. The unlined depiction of the plum blossoms, later beloved as Korin plums, the arrangement of the buds, the drooping of the trunk, and the unparalleled, masterful water ripples—combine to give the painting a profound sense of rhythm and a stylish decorative quality. This is why this screen is considered the culmination of Korin's artistic career. The right panel bears the signature "Seisho Korin" and the left panel "Hokkyo Korin," and each has a red circular seal with the name "Hoshuku." These are thought to be works from Korin's later years and have been passed down through the Tsugaru family.

National Treasure "Colored Wisteria Design Tea Jar" by Nonomura Ninsei
This teapot is renowned as one of Ninsei's greatest masterpieces, and can be considered a symbol of Kyoto culture. Blooming wisteria flowers are skillfully painted on a warm white glaze, with the flower spikes and vines colored in red, purple, gold, and silver, and each green leaf features individual veins. The evenly thin, polished surface creates a refined appearance that harmonizes well with the overglaze pattern, and the earthwork at the bottom maintains the overall balance of the jar. A large, oval seal bearing the name "Ninsei" is stamped on the bottom. This item was handed down through the Kyogoku family of the Marugame Domain.

National Treasure "Handbook 'Kanbokujo'"
The "Castle of Calligraphy" catalog of ancient calligraphy, along with "Moshiokusa" (Kyoto National Museum) and "Friends of the Unseen World" (Idemitsu Museum of Arts), is renowned as one of the three major catalogs of ancient calligraphy. It is believed to have been compiled early among the catalogs, and was passed down as a basic ledger for appraisals to Ryochu Kohitsu (1655-1736), a member of the ancient calligraphy family. It was later acquired by Donno Masuda (1847-1938). The name "Castle of Calligraphy" means a castle built with calligraphy (brush) and ink, a fitting name for a treasure trove of master calligraphy. The collection contains a total of 311 pieces, 154 front pages and 157 back pages, featuring calligraphy from the Nara period through the Northern and Southern Courts and Muromachi periods.