Conservation of a wall painting tracing from the Kondo of Horyuji temple, Nara

This is a full-size tracing of wall no. 9, the Pure Land of Miroku, in the Kondo of Horyuji temple, Nara, painted in the late 7th century. In December 1879, the British diplomat Ernest Satow (1843-1929) visited Horyuji together with William Anderson and saw the Kondo wall-paintings. Realizing their importance, he commissioned the painter Sakurai Koun to produce a copy of wall no. 9, and this project began in May 1880. A duplicate copy was given to the head of the Museum Bureau, Machida Hisanari (1838-97), to encourage him to commission a full set of copies. Satow sent his copy of wall no. 9 to Anderson, who had returned to England in early 1880. Having formed part of the Anderson Collection at the British Museum since 1881, the drawing was rediscovered by Princess Akiko of Mikasa in 2007, during the research for her doctoral thesis.

[@freakrx2349]

I’ve been to Nara Japan. I loved feeding the deer there and I got to visit some really cool temples like Todai-Ji. The Buddha statue there is massive. Almost as big as the Daibutsu in Kamakura.

[@FindThisArtist]

Very interesting and rewarding work, well done and thank you!

[@grahampalmer9337]

It is fortunate that a record was made of this culturally important image that was so tragically lost. I am immensely proud that our British Museum could facilitate the saving for future generations a representation of the original work. I am unsure however if the Museum holds copies of the other lost works from this set. Many thanks, & my appreciation, to all involved in this restoration for their diligence & patience, & also to the Institutions & financial contributors for their support.

[@christianbell4482]

Thank you for this thoughtful comment. These copies, as well as others, are sometimes all we have left of some of the cultural treasures lost to fire, like in this case, war and floods.

[@user-vu4xz6tg1i]

¿Orgulloso de que el museo Británico este lleno de cosas robadas?

[@suzmaca650]

Beautiful

[@captcardor]

All I can say is, "Wow"! Really great work. It would be interesting to use computer colorization to create a simulation of the original colors in order to see the true splendor of the original.

[@user-wi3wy1pz1e]

Oh nice, i live not too far from Horyuji and was planning to go there to see the Momiji (red maples) soon because the location is beautiful. Seeing a little part of its history gives a lot more meaning to my outing.

[@barrymoore4470]

The faded, degraded outlines of the ancient painting is in keeping with the perspective on transience that underlies Buddhist teaching.

[@marimochizuki98]

Thank you for sharing the wonderful video. When I paint Japanese paintings or cook Japanese food, I don't wear black clothes. Is the reason the masters working on the restoration work in this video are wearing black clothes so that the dust from the fibers can be easily seen on the painting?

[@ansarulislam77]

Interesting

[@longcastle4863]

Wish there was a no music option to this.

[@starlinguk]

Yes, it's too loud.

[@BOBBYJENNY168]

WHEN OUR MINDSET CHANGES,ALMOST EVERYTHING AROUND US CAN BE READY TO COMBINE TOGETHER THEN IT CAN BECOME POWERFUL. 当我们的心态改变时，我们周围的几乎所有事物都可以准备好结合在一起，然后变得强大。 RULES ARE ACTUALLY GIVING US A TEST TO IMPROVE OURSELVES HOW BEST WE CAN BE IN LIFE. 规则实际上是在考验我们，让我们在生活中如何做到最好。 Let's give colours a chance to show us their best. 让我们给色彩一个机会展示它们最好的一面.

[@Tulip4nsito]

Devuelvan el Moai 🗿

[@GusTavo-nn6ll]

Y el moai ?

[@chey8012]

Devuelvan el Moái 🗿

[@zarakinn1855]

Devuelvan el Moai🗿🗿🗿

[@mercedesrun6643]

Y si regresan el Moai? Return the Moai 🗿

[@someonep.4951]

Devuelvan el Moai 🗿🗿🗿

[@NettoKyioshi]

Devuelvan el Moai 🗿 🗿 🗿

[@figniz.ord66]

Devuelvan el moai

[@sergioesquivel7452]

Devuelvan el moái 🗿🗿🗿

[@josejara9550]

Devuelvan el moái 🗿

[@johannydanielaorellanadard5450]

Devuelvan el moai🗿🗿

[@catalinagr4399]

Devuelvan el moai🗿🗿🗿

[@galiaguevaragarcia2990]

DEVUELVAN El MOAI 🗿 🗿 🗿 🗿 🗿

[@leoperarm]

terrible audio

[@pablolarraguibel]

Devuelvan el Moái 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@haumakaa]

Get back the Moai Hoa Hakananai'a to Rapa Nui, pompous thieves!🗿

[@lourdesevaristo1428]

DEVUELVAN EL MOAI. 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿

[@lemonboy9498]

Devuelvan al moai 🗿🇨🇱

[@mangalaavhad5484]

Robbery mesuem😂

[@Kim_jong_un..]

British museum ❎ British thief market ✅

[@VoidStar6900]

what ? y'all know how to type? 😂

[@haumakaa]

@@VoidStar6900 British Museum: We need our moai back, he is our sacred friend, our lost friend, our friend stolen by a gang of sailors and Royal Navy officers in 1868. He will restore mana to our island, Rapa Nui, Easter Island. Please be decent people. You are not owners of Humanity. They are not reservoirs of our souls. Without our moai we are bodies, but without soul. He is our family

[@LoriAW3791]

Japan would probably like their stuff back

[@vibingwithvinyl]

Did you watch the video and read the description? It's a copy of the original. Nothing was taken from Japan.

[@alimanski7941]

Probably should learn the facts first, before trying virtue signaling.

[@damon1957ful]

Should listen to the vid before jumping in, as it makes you sound a right tool

[@almister]

Japan was never colonised, they rapidly industrialised and generally modernised. Learn some history.

[@catyronwode]

Failed virtue signaling without having watched the video by Elle, the "Fabulous Fire Bomb."

[@Alexis-ny5rd]

so um when you gonna give these artifacts back you stole from other countries?

[@arghyadhar5805]

Did the british steal this too

[@Kim_jong_un..]

Thieft museum 😂

[@user-vu4xz6tg1i]

Give it back to Japan, give back all the stuff you've stolen!!!!

[@medueleaca]

Devuelvan el moai 🗿🗿🗿

[@andy4024]

Devuelvan el Moai 🗿🗿🗿

[@spid3r_boii]

Devuelvan el Moái 🗿

[@queti8634]

Devuelvan el moai 🗿🗿🗿