Paintings on sliding doors created in 1855 by court painter Tsurusawa Tanshin at the Kyoto Imperial Palace will be displayed to the public for the first time to mark the 170th anniversary of the palace's reconstruction. Five of the works, depicting legendary virtuous women from ancient China, will feature in an autumn special exhibition. An official from the Kyoto Office of the Imperial Household Agency described it as a rare chance to view the art in a normally closed hall.
A set of 16 paintings on sliding doors, adorning the four walls of the Gedan-no-ma (lower-level room) in the Kogogu-tsunegoten, or Empress’s permanent palace, at the Kyoto Imperial Palace in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, were unveiled to the press on Oct. 23. These works, created in 1855 by Tsurusawa Tanshin, the palace's court painter at the time, depict women and mountain ranges based on the “Legendary Virtuous Women of Ancient China,” a collection of tales about model women from ancient China. The palace, historically known as Dairi, was rebuilt after a fire that year.
One painting is titled “Legendary Virtuous Women of Ancient China: Lady from the Youxin Clan, Consort to King Tang of the Shang Dynasty.” To commemorate the 170th anniversary of the reconstruction, five of the 16 panels will be displayed to the public for the first time during the autumn special exhibition “Kyoto Imperial Palace, Introduction of Court Culture, Special Exhibition Autumn 2025,” held from Nov. 26 to 30.
“This is a rare opportunity to see the screen paintings in a palace hall that is normally closed to the public,” said an official from the Kyoto Office of the Imperial Household Agency. “We hope visitors will experience the brushwork and color palette up close.” The event aims to introduce court culture, offering a unique glimpse into historical imperial life.