Arts of Pan-Asia (China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia)
The Honolulu Museum of Art has a comprehensive collection of Asian art spanning nearly 6,000 years and numbering around 23,600 objects covering a broad geographical region. The collection has played a central role since the museum first opened to the public in 1927, beginning with East Asian art, to represent the immigrant communities from China, Japan, and Korea already in the islands at that time. More recently the museum has expanded its holdings to other parts of Asia, including India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Highlights of the collection include one of the finest—and earliest—well preserved examples of wooden 11th century Buddhist sculpture from China’s Northern Song Dynasty, a 19th century monumental, polychrome Nandi head from Southern India, and a 13th century sandstone sculpture of Prajnaparamita from Cambodia.
Highlights from the collection
Anonymous
Sea, Cranes and Peaches
Korea, Korean Empire (1897–1910), 1902
One of a pair of six-panel screens; ink, colors, and gold leaf on silk
Gift of Anna Rice Cooke, 1927 (2320)
Anonymous
Ewer with Scrolling Lotus Design
Korea, Goryeo period (918–1392), 12th century
Stoneware with celadon glaze, black and white slip inlay
Gift of Anna Rice Cooke, 1927 (101)
Anonymous
Glazed Plate with Tulip Decoration
Turkey, Ottoman Empire (1299–1922), 17th century
Glazed stoneware
Purchase, 1963 (3136.1)
Anonymous
Sea, Cranes and Peaches
Korea, Korean Empire (1897–1910), 1902
One of a pair of six-panel screens; ink, colors, and gold leaf on silk
Gift of Anna Rice Cooke, 1927 (2319)
Anonymous
Guanyin (Bodhisattva)
China, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), c. 1025
Wood with traces of pigment
Purchase, 1927 (2400)
Anonymous
Gold Belt (Tamil: Oddiyanam)
India, 19th century
Gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds
Gift of Gulab and Indru Watumull, in celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary, 2003 (12392.1)
Anonymous
Dragon Jar
Korea, Joseon period (1392–1897), late 18th century
Porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze decoration
Purchase, in honor of the Centennial of Korean Immigration to the United States, 2003 (12387.1)
Anonymous
Taima Mandala
Japan, Kamakura period (1185–1333), 14th century
Hanging scroll; ink, colors, gold on silk
Gift of Robert Allerton, 1960 (2726.1)
Hong Ren (1610–1663)
The Coming of Autumn
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), c. 1658–1661
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Gift of the Wilhelmina Tenney Memorial Collection, 1955 (2045.1)
Anonymous
Parvati
India, Chola period, (9th–13th centuries), 13th century
Bronze
Purchase, 1975 (4313.1)
Anonymous
Maternity Figure
Indonesia, 4th–6th century
Bronze
Gift of The Christensen Fund, 2001 (10469.1)
Anonymous
Ifugao Priest’s Box (Punamhan)
Philippines, 20th century