December 3, 2014
New Year’s celebrations at the museum – the sheep and lucky omens
Hiroko Kanai, Tokyo National Museum
2015 is the year of the Sheep in the Chinese zodiac. Every New Year, the Tokyo National Museum opens an exhibit titled "First visit to the museum" to introduce the zodiac animal for the year. This coming year will be the 12th year that we open this exhibit, and I would like to introduce a few of the festive works of art for the New Year of the Sheep. These relics were gathered between the Mediterranean Sea and East Asia.
Sheep are considered one of the most important animals to humankind before the Common Era, and were used as the ideal sacrifice to God in both Eastern and Western countries. There is evidence that sheep were domesticated as early as 7000BCE in ancient Mesopotamian culture, and even earlier signs that humans lived with sheep in ancient China. The meat, milk, and fat obtained from sheep were important sources of nutrients for humans, and their skin and wool were used for clothing as well as parchment. Sheep are an invaluable part of the development of the human race.
Sheep Head Pendant
Excavated in the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea or Carthage
7th century BCE
The sheep was also considered the most important animal in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and eventually took on a meaning synonymous with good omens. In ancient China, the sheep began appearing in bronze wares and also in characters meaning beauty, goodness, and fortune.
Brush Cleaner, Blue jade
19th century Qing dynasty, China
Tokyo National Museum Archives, donated by Denbei Kamiya
The good omen image of the sheep spread throughout all of Asia. In the Chronicles of Japan, it is written that in 599, Kudara (an ancient Korean kingdom) sent two heads of sheep to Japan. In other works such as the Hyakurensho (record of the Kamakura period), sheep make an appearance as gifts from other countries. Among the treasures of Shosoin (a treasure house in Todai-ji Temple, Nara) are white fabrics and folding screens with sheep motifs.
Sheep are not native to Japan, and have primarily been known as a foreign animal that features as part of the Zodiac.
[Important Cultural Property]
Standing Twelve Heavenly Generals
Kamakura Period, 13th century
Tokyo National Museum Archives
However, for some reason, the sheep did not become a symbol of good omens in Japan, and when people look at these ancient relics now, they look more like goats. Until sheep were introduced in the Meiji Period, the Japanese people could not tell the difference between sheep and goats. In any case, we can tell that ancient artists tried their best to give expression to some idea of the sheep in their imaginations, without knowing what it actually looked like.
This year’s "First visit to the museum" is divided into four perspectives: Sheep in Asia, Chinese Zodiac, Sheep and Japanese, and Good Omens. It explores the relationship between sheep and humans through relics found in the Mediterranean and East Asia. We have also prepared a number of works suitable for the New Year festivities, so please come to the museum in Ueno in the new year.
Tokyo National Museum
13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8712
- Telephone
- 03-5777-8600
- Access
- 10-min. walk from JR Ueno Station, park exit/Uguisudani Station, south exit; 15-min. walk from Ueno Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza line/Hibiya line; 15-min. walk from Nezu Station on the Chiyoda line or Ueno Station on the Keisei Electric line.
- Museum Hours
- 9:30-17:00 (last admission: 16:30)
- Holidays
- Every Monday (Tuesday, if Monday is a statutory holiday. Subject to change depending on special exhibits)
- Admission
- General admission: 620 yen (520 yen)
University students: 410 yen (310 yen)
*Fees in parentheses indicate group rates (for groups larger than 20)
*Admission is free for those with a handicapped person's passbook and their caregiver
*Admission is free for seniors over 70 and high school students under 18. Please have a proof-of-age document ready during admission. - Website
- Tokyo National Museum Website:http://www.tnm.jp/?lang=en