The Kyoto National Museum is presenting between 2 January - 25 March 2007 a fascinating exhibition dedicated to how the Shinto deities are presented in traditional Japanese art, from medieval times until now. As on New Year the Shinto shrines are filled with people who have come to thank the deities and make wishes for the year to come, this exhibition is an excellent example of how this Shinto deities have bben perceived, imagined and represented over the centuries.
Which is the appearance of the Shinto deities ? According to works presented in ther exhibition, ranging from medieval sculptures, figurines and paintings to newer works, inspired by traditions, the god could be a man or a woman, dressed for war in a complicated and scary armour and brandishing weapons or wearing an elegant kimono. If in the beginning the aspect of the deities was tougher and even scary, as these entities were destined to be respected and even feared, later, under the influence of the haniwa figurines, the Shinto deities became much more humane.
This trek in the past has been organised by the Kyoto National Museum in order to offer the chance of discovering traditional japanese art and it's mixture with religious beliefs.
