Art exhibition in Kyoto
New Year Special Exhibition: All About Sheep — Celebrating the Zodiac at Kyoto National Museum
Discover cultural treasures featuring sheep, the zodiac animal of 2027. Open until 8:00 PM on Fridays. The same admission ticket provides access to all exhibitions in the Heisei Chishinkan Wing on the day of your visit.
- Dates
- Dec 22 (Tue) – Feb 7 (Sun)
- Hours
- 09:30 – 17:00
- Venue
- Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Gallery 2F-2
- Nearest station
- Shichijo
- Admission
- Adults ¥700; university students ¥350; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 and over free
About this event
The sheep is the zodiac animal for 2027, and this special New Year exhibition places it at the centre of Japanese and East Asian art. Although sheep have not traditionally been familiar livestock across much of Japan, they have long appeared in works related to the twelve zodiac animals. Exhibits include a bronze mirror decorated with zodiac signs, a ceramic dish by Okuda Eisen and the Important Cultural Property Scroll of the Twelve Animals. Visitors can also see a rubbing of a zodiac figure from Gyeongju, Korea, and stone sculptures of sheep. Together, the objects reveal how a single animal has been interpreted across different regions and artistic traditions.
Highlights
- See the Important Cultural Property Scroll of the Twelve Animals.
- Examine the zodiac-decorated dish by Okuda Eisen.
- Discover unusual sheep-shaped objects, including glazed ceramics and stone carvings.
- Compare Japanese zodiac art with a rubbing from Gyeongju, Korea.
- Good for
- For families and travellers interested in zodiac animals, Japanese New Year traditions and East Asian art.
Good to know before you go
- Displayed works and exhibition periods are subject to change.
- The painting after Liang Kai depicting Huang Chuping is scheduled for display until January 17.
- Students and visitors eligible for free admission must show appropriate identification.
- Paid museum audio commentary is available for selected works.
Pochikichi's story cornerWhy is the sheep part of Japan's zodiac despite being an unfamiliar animal?
The sheep represents the zodiac year 2027. Wool clothing is familiar in Japan, but sheep themselves have historically been less common outside Hokkaido. The Kyoto National Museum explains that Japan's geography made it difficult to secure extensive grazing land. Nevertheless, sheep became an established symbol in Japanese art through the twelve-animal zodiac.
In China and Europe, sheep have long been common livestock. In Japan, their presence can also be understood through decorative motifs and representations of the zodiac. These different relationships between people and animals offer an interesting way to approach the artworks.
The exhibition includes mirrors and ceramic vessels featuring zodiac imagery, alongside objects depicting sheep directly. The Important Cultural Property Scroll of the Twelve Animals presents the zodiac creatures in narrative painting, while other pieces explore their forms through ceramics, lacquer and stone.
A rubbing associated with the tomb of Kim Yu-sin in Gyeongju, Korea, provides another perspective on East Asian zodiac culture. The materials and artistic techniques differ, yet the sheep connects them. That is why it is worth comparing the sheep imagery in Japanese crafts with the zodiac figure from Korea.
Sources: Kyoto National Museum — Exhibition highlights and list of works (Japanese)
FAQ
- What is New Year Special Exhibition: All About Sheep — Celebrating the Zodiac at Kyoto National Museum?
- The sheep is the zodiac animal for 2027, and this special New Year exhibition places it at the centre of Japanese and East Asian art. Although sheep have not traditionally been familiar livestock across much of Japan, they have long appeared in works related to the twelve zodiac animals. Exhibits include a bronze mirror decorated with zodiac signs, a ceramic dish by Okuda Eisen and the Important Cultural Property Scroll of the Twelve Animals. Visitors can also see a rubbing of a zodiac figure from Gyeongju, Korea, and stone sculptures of sheep. Together, the objects reveal how a single animal has been interpreted across different regions and artistic traditions.
- When is New Year Special Exhibition: All About Sheep — Celebrating the Zodiac at Kyoto National Museum?
- From Dec 22 (Tue) to Feb 7 (Sun), 2027.
- What are the opening hours?
- 09:30 – 17:00
- How much does it cost?
- Adults ¥700; university students ¥350; high school students and younger, visitors under 18, and visitors aged 70 and over free
- Where is it and what is the nearest station?
- Kyoto National Museum, Heisei Chishinkan Wing, Gallery 2F-2. The nearest station is Shichijo.
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