Research Themes

(1) Development of Heian Buddhist Paintings

The Heian Buddhist Paintings is one of the aesthetic peaks in Japanese history of paintings. About its base and mechanism of divelopment, I try to approach from several aspects, for example, from the style history, the relationship between thought and modeling, the state of aethethic sence and so on.

(2) Rites and Arts

Buddhist Arts are closely related to the Rites. I would like to ask again the meaning of Buddhist Arts in the society, focusing especially on the relationship between Buddihist paintings and the character and function of the space where they were used.

(3) Materials and Meanings of Solemnity

Solemnity is indispensable for Religious Art. Gold and silver as materials expressing brightness show particularly various development about these technics. Centering on "Kaikonjiki", entirely golden depiction style established during the Kamakura period, I study about the trace of its solemnity.

Chief Publications

Shaka (sakyamuni or Buddha) Rising from the Golden Coffin (Kyoto National Museum) 1992.

Kouyasan butsu nehan zu-ooinaru shi no zoukei (E wa kataru, No. 2, Heibonsha) 1994

Butsuga no Zoukei (Yoshikawa koubunkan) 1995.

The Six Realms Paintings in Shojuraigoji Temple (Chuokoron Bijutsu Shuppan/Joint Publication) 2007.

Butsuga no Sonyo Hyogen (Chuokoron Bijutsu Shuppan) 2010.



Name: Takeo Izumi

Curriculum Vitae

11/1979 - 03/1984
Curator, Osaka City Museum of fine Arts
04/1984 - 06/1990
Education Technical Officer of Curatorial Section, Kyoto National Museum
07/1990 - 03/2001
Senior Researcher, Kyoto National Museum
04/2004 - 03/2006
Director of Resource Management Department, Kyoto Center for the Research of Cultural Archives, Kyoto National Museum
04/2004 - 03/2006
Director of Education Department, Curatorial Section, Kyoto National Museum
04/2006 -
Professor, Department of Eastern and Japanese Art History, Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Tohoku University