The Age of Chinese Bronzes Gallery 3 Special Exhibition: “The World of Bronze Inscriptions”

【Exhibition Title】

The Age of Chinese Bronzes

Gallery 3 Special Exhibition: “The World of Bronze Inscriptions”

【Venue】

Sen-oku Hakukokan Museum, Kyoto (Higashiyama, Shishigatani)

【Dates】

Saturday, September 5–Sunday, December 20, 2026

*From Tuesday, October 20, through Friday, October 30, only the Bronze Gallery will be open.*

【Opening Hours】

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.)

【Closed】

Mondays (open on public holidays and closed on the following weekday: September 24, October 13, and November 24)

【Admission】

Adults: ¥1,200 (¥1,000); Students: ¥800 (¥700)

Admission to the special exhibition is included with the ticket for this exhibition.

*From October 20 through October 30, only the Bronze Gallery will be open. Adults: ¥600 (¥500); Students: ¥400 (¥300).

*Free admission for visitors aged 18 and under. Students and visitors aged 18 and under must present valid identification.

*Admission tickets, except online tickets, are sold at the museum reception desk.

*Discounted group rates shown in parentheses apply to groups of 20 or more.

*Visitors presenting a disability certificate or equivalent documentation, together with one accompanying person, are admitted free of charge.

【Overview】

Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes are characterized by their complex and finely detailed forms. Some bear inscriptions cast into the vessels in the written language used by people of the time. These ancient Chinese characters—known as bronze inscriptions, or jinwen—are early forms of the Chinese characters used today and provide valuable clues for understanding the society and culture of ancient China. A careful reading of their content can convey a vivid sense of the people of ancient China, almost as if their voices and presence could be felt. Bronze inscriptions are also distinguished by their beauty as written forms, captivating and influencing calligraphers throughout the centuries.

This autumn, the Bronze Gallery will present a special exhibition devoted to bronze inscriptions, exploring their rich world in conjunction with the Sumitomo Collection. The exhibition will be of interest not only to those fascinated by bronzes and ancient China, but also to anyone interested in calligraphy and ancient writing systems.