Buddha close up in the Wallenstein Riding School: Who was it and what is Buddhism?This maps a unique exhibition

The new exhibition in the Vladštejn riding hall will present visitors to the multicultural character of Buddhism, in which there is no direction, but several different teachings and traditions.All through more than a hundred items from the Swiss collections of the Museum Rietberg Zürich complemented by about seventy works of art from the Asian collections of the National Gallery

“The exhibition presents an important set of Buddhist art from the Prague National Gallery together with the masterpieces of Buddhist art from the collections of the Museum Rietberg Zürich, which can be seen in the Czech Republic for the first time.In addition, the exhibition offers its theme not only in lessons, but also strengthens moral values, religious understanding and multicultural awareness, ”says the CEO of the National Gallery Aliceja Knast.

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About the founder and the spread of his thoughts

Through the exhibition, visitors will also look into the history of the spread of Buddhism from India both to other Asian states, but above all to Europe.They will also learn the person of the founder of the whole teaching - Siddhárthou Gautama, who probably lived in 480 and 400 BC.“Buddhism is clearly one of the world's most important philosophical and religious teachings and its values are today as valid as it used to be.Through fine arts, the ideas of Buddhism are easier to reach visitors are easier to understand, ”thinks the director of the art collection Asia and the curator of the exhibition Markéta Hánová

Right at the beginning of the exhibition, visitors will become acquainted with various forms of Buddha, which gave him various Asian cultures.Most of us may associate Buddha with a plump, bald man sitting in a Turkish sitting position.But there are a number of display.It is usually depicted with elongated earlobes, but each of the Buddhist schools gave him different forms and different power.

"Other parts focus on works inspired by his life from birth to Nirvana, Buddhist teachings and its spread across the Asian continent, or the responses of Buddhism in the Czech lands from the end of the 19th century," says Hánová

The biggest attraction of the whole exhibition is the 15 -meter -long Japanese picture scroll from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries with the theme of the legend of Buddh's life.The calligraphic part will also be complemented by the image part of the scroll, which will be seen for the first time.It can be seen in the digital version on the website of the National Gallery, where the labels will be added.

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Accompanying program

In addition, the exhibition will also offer the audio installation of recited prayers and Zen Koans, or by Janka Rouse, the current practice of the Buddhist teaching of various directions in the Czech Republic, which was created specifically for this exhibition.Various accompanying programs are also planned as part of the exhibition.In addition to standard guided tours and workshops, there will also be yoga or meditation.