Kosetu Nousu is a Japanese painter who devoted his life to producing Buddhist paintings depicting the life of the Buddha.

Nousu completed a magnificent mural painting depicting the life of Buddha at the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar Temple in Sarnath, India. During the process of achieving this significant work, which took him about five years from 1932 to 1936, Nousu was accosted by considerable challenges such as being in a totally different country and culture as well as a lack of funds. It was as if Nousu was devoting himself to ascetic practices even at the risk of his life.

Nousu’s finest and final masterpiece is “The Life of Buddha”, owned by the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism. Rev. Dr. Yehan Numata, the founder of the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism, commissioned Nousu to produce this piece in 1955. Unfortunately, however, the artist was attacked by cerebral apoplexy during its production. Even though he was going through recovery and rehabilitation, Nousu never stopped working on his work and finally the magnificent masterpieces of seven paintings were completed in July, 1959.

Nearly 60 years since their completion, the entire collection of “The Life of Buddha” will be exhibited together for the first time at the Byodoin Temple’s Hoshokan Museum. This is a must-not-miss opportunity to witness Nousu’s last and the finest Buddhist masterpiece as well as to view some of the letters he wrote during his lifetime.

Exhibition period: June 30th (Sat.) – September 14^th (Fri.), 2018

*Open every day during the exhibition period. Some of the exhibited items will be replaced during this time.

Hours: 9:00-17:00 (Byodoin Museum “Hoshokan”)

Admission: Additional admission fee for Byodoin Temple will be required.

Adults: 600 yen, Junior High and High School Students: 400 yen, Elementary School Students: 300 yen

Hosted by: Byodoin Temple

In cooperation with: Society for the Promotion of Buddhism

Venue: Byodoin Museum “Hoshokan” (116 Uji Renge, Uji City, Kyoto)