Ryukoku University Ryukoku Museum

A transformable Buddhist museum aiming for functionality and simple design

  • Cultural Spaces
  • Introducing the life of Shakyamuni and the birth of Buddhism based on the abundant materials in the museum's collection

    Introducing the life of Shakyamuni and the birth of Buddhism based on the abundant materials in the museum's collection

  • A corridor that reproduces the Buddhist murals of the Bezeklik Caves in their original size, a major research result from Ryukoku University.

    A corridor that reproduces the Buddhist murals of the Bezeklik Caves in their original size, a major research result from Ryukoku University.

  • Valuable materials are borrowed from many temples and related institutions to create a comprehensive exhibition on Japanese Buddhism.

    Valuable materials are borrowed from many temples and related institutions to create a comprehensive exhibition on Japanese Buddhism.

  • High-definition 4K theater. When Video ends, the screen rises and Nishi Honganji Temple can be seen outside the window.

    High-definition 4K theater. When Video ends, the screen rises and Nishi Honganji Temple can be seen outside the window.

  • Ryukoku University Ryukoku Museum
  • A corridor that reproduces the Buddhist murals of the Bezeklik Caves in their original size, a major research result from Ryukoku University.
  • Valuable materials are borrowed from many temples and related institutions to create a comprehensive exhibition on Japanese Buddhism.
  • High-definition 4K theater. When Video ends, the screen rises and Nishi Honganji Temple can be seen outside the window.

Photography: Yasushi Ichikawa

About the Project

Overview This is a comprehensive Buddhist museum opened by Ryukoku University, whose founding principle is the teachings of Jodo Shinshu. The exhibits introduce a wide range of Buddhist history and culture, covering the long history of Buddhism, from its birth in India to its spread across Asia, and then to Japan. The museum does not have a fixed permanent exhibit, but instead features a flexible exhibition space that changes themes and impressions on a regular basis, and a high-definition 4K theater with a resolution four times that of high-vision.
Issues/Themes - Capable of hosting a variety of exhibitions, including large-scale special exhibitions and traveling exhibitions.
- It provides an ideal preservation environment for exhibiting valuable cultural assets.
- As a university museum, we will reflect the results of our research in our exhibits.
Space Solution/Realization The exhibition room is a user-friendly and flexible space, and while it has the basic functions of an exhibition, such as easily movable cases, a light stage, movable walls, and LED lighting with switchable color temperature, we have pursued a thoroughly simple design for the appearance that is visible from the outside. The display cases have a high level of preservation performance. In addition, the results of Ryukoku University's research that combines the arts and sciences have been embodied in a realistic exhibition, such as a corridor that reproduces the Buddhist murals of the Bezeklik Caves in full size.
Design for Environment The facility is fully equipped with highly durable display cases and high-color-rendering, high-brightness LED lighting that allows the color temperature, illuminance, and illumination angle to be adjusted for each document.

Basic Information

Client Ryukoku University
Services Provided Basic Planning, Display Design & Layout, Display Production & Construction
Our Team Direction: Akihiko Wada
Planning: Yuko Onizawa
Design: Noriko Watabiki
Awards Winner of the Award of Merit from the 2012 Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Lighting Awards and the Display Design Awards 2011
Location Kyoto, Japan
Open April 2011
Website http://museum.ryukoku.ac.jp/
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*The shared information and details of the project is accurate as of the date they were posted. There may have been unannounced changes at a later date.