Carved Wooden Mandalas of the Two Realms

Wood, unpainted · China, Tang dynasty · 8th–9th century · Kongōbuji, Wakayama

The esoteric Buddhist cosmos carved into two wooden panels, traditionally said to have crossed the sea with Kūkai.

Exhibition: Celebrating 1250 Years Since the Birth of the Great Master Kūkai: Kūkai and the Treasures of Shingon Buddhism — Tokyo National Museum · 2026-07-14 – 2026-09-06