Community Gallery Exhibit

Approaching the Sacred: Japanese Buddhist Temples in Hawai‘i Exhibition

December 1 - February 22 (Monday-Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm)
Community Gallery

Upon entering a Japanese Buddhist temple in Hawai‘i, most people—whether they are first-time visitors or lifelong members—can easily feel overwhelmed by the elaborate and complex display of golden ornaments, intricately carved altars, images of venerable masters, serene buddhas, angry deities, and mythic animals. These objects, as well as the architectural elements of the temple itself, have meanings that are often hidden in ancient symbolisms. In order to help people decipher the meanings embedded in temples, George and Willa Tanabe have written Japanese Buddhist Temples in Hawai‘i: An Illustrated Guide, published by the University of Hawai‘i Press (October 2012). The book covers all of the remaining Japanese Buddhist temples in the state, 90 sites in all, and describes each temple in detail with an eye for special, made-in-Hawai‘i features.

With the support of a generous grant from The Hiroaki, Elaine & Lawrence Kono Foundation, and with the cooperation of the Hawai‘i Buddhist Council, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i is sponsoring an exhibition of temple furnishings at the JCCH gallery to run collaboratively with the launch of the guidebook. The exhibition consists of a wide range of objects that temples have generously agreed to be used for public display, most of them for the first time. The exhibition runs from December 1 - February 22, 2013. The opening reception will held on Saturday, December 1 at 11:30 am.