{"id":179124,"date":"2026-08-12T15:26:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T06:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?post_type=event&p=179124&lang=en"},"modified":"2026-08-17T13:43:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T04:43:02","slug":"bird-and-flower-paintings-26","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/event\/bird-and-flower-paintings-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird-and-Flower Paintings, A Symphony of Beauty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dazaifu Tenmangu, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, long revered as a patron of culture and the arts, presents an exhibition exploring Japanese flower-and-bird painting through works from its collection. Spanning classical to contemporary art, the exhibition traces how artists have depicted seasonal plants and birds while expressing changing ideas of nature, symbolism and beauty.<\/p>\n

The shrine holds numerous cultural treasures, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, many of which are preserved and exhibited at its Treasure Hall. Works on display range from the Sotatsu school and Kano Tanyu to Watanabe Seitei, Kobayakawa Shusei and contemporary artists.<\/p>\n

Highlights include several works being shown publicly for the first time, among them Tanyu\u2019s large-scale Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons Folding Screen (first term), which stands more than 160 cm high. In Japanese painting, flowers and birds have served not simply as observations of nature, but also as symbols of the changing seasons and good fortune, while reflecting each artist\u2019s aesthetic sensibility.<\/p>\n

The exhibition is divided into first and second periods, with different works shown in each rotation. Visitors returning at a different time can therefore encounter a different selection from the collection.<\/p>\n

Dazaifu Tenmangu\u2019s temporary sanctuary, which stood in front of the Main Sanctuary for around three years, is currently being dismantled. Regular worship at the Main Sanctuary is scheduled to resume around mid September 2026 following its first major renovation in 124 years, offering another reason to visit alongside the exhibition.<\/p>\n

\"Bird-and-Flower

Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons by Kan\u014d Tan\u2019y\u016b, Photo by Misako Misako<\/p><\/div>\n