The “Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku” is an AR journey through Prince Shotoku’s life. This special exhibition is being held at the Tokyo National Museum from September 29 to October 25.
This is the first project designed to protect and celebrate cultural and historical properties in Japan. The project utilizes advanced technologies such as 5G mobile communication and AR. The exhibition comes as a joint collaboration by the Tokyo National Museum, the Japanese Center for the Utilization of Cultural Properties, and KDDI.
Prince Shotoku at 27 years old. An Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku. Year: 1069
In this scene, Prince Shotoku is flying on a black horse to Mt. Fuji. (This illustration was produced under the supervision of a researcher from the Tokyo National Museum.)
This painting was found on a panel from Horyu-ji Temple dating back to 1069. Horyu-ji Temple is the world’s oldest collection of wooden structures and buildings, and in 1993 it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (significant cultural heritage). The temple itself was originally founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku.
The “Illustrated Biography of Prince Shotoku” is the oldest existing biography of the Prince. The Prince was born as one of the Emperor’s sons and later became a very powerful politician. He introduced the first system of ranks in Japan, however ranking did not occur by hereditary succession, but instead by giving ranks to those with individual achievements. In 604, he established a constitution and preached the attitude and morals of serving the Emperor. He is one of the prominent and legendary figures who helped spread Buddhism, organized history books, and designed bills in Japan.
The illustrated biography is a painted compilation of 10 panels which depicts 58 of his notable episodes. In the past, the monks at the temple used the paintings to tell visitors about Prince Shotoku’s life. However, after almost 1000 years, this illustrated biography has deteriorated and received some damage with time. Some parts of the painting have been completely lost over the last millennium. As time continues on, it is becoming increasingly difficult to share in the appreciation and artistry of the historical details found depicted in these paintings as they lay quietly behind museum glass displays.
In this exclusive exhibition, 10 full-size reproduction panels, arranged in the same order, can be viewed through a smartphone and an eyeglass device in a hall almost the same size as the temple. When wearing the device, you can enjoy 15 episodes of Prince Shotoku with audio commentary and animation. The animation was created under the supervision of researchers at the museum. When you hold your smartphone over the panel and select the episode you want to watch from the images displayed on the screen, you can receive explanations of the text displayed with narration.
Due to coronavirus concerns and protection measures, the viewing of the exhibition can take around 40 minutes and the number of visitors is limited to eight at a time.