Hansen's Disease and the Japanese is old, and "Japan Secretary" states "White leprosy​ ​(Bye)From ancient times to the early modern period, the perception of Hansen's Disease changed and overlapped: it was an infectious disease, a disease caused by Buddhist punishment, a "polluted" disease, and a disease caused by family lineage or pedigree.

In the midst of this, patients have been placed at the bottom of society as sinners and burdened with sins. Why have people with this disease come to be subjected to such severe discrimination?Leprosy​ ​(lie)We must continue our research and studies into pre-modern times in order to understand the root cause of why the measures were erroneous.

However, in modern Japan, as a national policy,Leprosy​ ​(lie)Before the start of the "Measures for Hansen's disease" project, Hansen's Disease and its patients rarely featured prominently in history, and historical documents are fragmentary, making it difficult to get a glimpse of the true nature of discrimination and prejudice in each era.

In such a scarce historical record, there is a record of the deeds of Ippen and Ninsho, who lived in roughly the same era in the early Middle Ages (Kamakura period), including:Patients suffering from leprosy​ ​(Raisha)The remains of this site provide a glimpse into the lives of the discriminated people, who were collectively known as "hinin" (non-people) at the time, including the "Japanese" and "non-human" people.

Therefore, this exhibition aims to serve as a starting point for examining Hansen's Disease in pre-modern Japanese history, and to discover clues to the reality of discrimination against Leprosy patients by examining the Ippen Hijiri-e and Gokuraku-ji drawings, as to how people in the early Middle Ages viewed patients with leprosy and how they were treated within society.

*The original "Ippen Shonin Engi-e" (owned by Seijokoji Temple), a Kanagawa Prefecture designated cultural property, will be on display from June 22 (Saturday) to July 5 (Friday). (A replica will be on display during the rest of the period.)
*The actual Gokuraku-ji Temple Map (owned by Gokuraku-Ritsuji Temple), a cultural property designated by Kamakura City, will be on display during the project.

Outline of the event

[Date]
May 11, 2013(soil)From August 11(Day)

【closing day】
Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), library cleaning days

【venue】
The National Hansen's Disease Museum Special Exhibition Room

[Opening hours]
9:30am to 4:30pm (entry until 4pm) Free admission

Ancillary business information

We are planning to invite Mr. Mitsutaka Tanaka (Shingon Risshu Gokurakuji priest) and Mr. Motohiro Toyama (Director of Ji-shu Sohonzan Yugyoji Museum) to give a lecture during the session.

1st Lecture

From 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 1st, a lecture on "Unraveling the Gokurakuji Precincts" was held by Dr. Mitsutaka Tanaka (Vulture Peak, Vulture Peak), and many people participated.

[Speakers]
Mr. Mitsuyoshi Tanaka (Chief Priest of Gokurakuji Temple)

【Title】
Unraveling the Map of the Gokurakuji Temple Grounds

[Contents]
About Gokurakuji Temple, Historical Background, and View the Map of the Temple Precincts

[Date and Time]
Saturday, June 1, 2013 2:00pm to 4:00pm

【venue】
The National Hansen's Disease Museum 1st floor, Video Hall

[Capacity]
150 people (no reservations required, first come first served, free admission)

2nd Lecture

From 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 27, a lecture on "The World of Ippen Shonin" was held by Professor Motohiro Toyama (Director of the Yugyoji Museum), and many people participated.

[Speakers]
Mr. Motohiro Toyama (Director of the Yugyoji Treasure Museum)

[Contents]
The World of Saint Ippen's Paintings

[Date and Time]
Saturday, July 27, 2013, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

【venue】
The National Hansen's Disease Museum 1st floor, Video Hall

[Capacity]
150 people (no reservations required, first come first served, free admission)

gallery talk

During the exhibition period, the curator explained the exhibition from 2:00 pm on the third Saturday of each month (May 18, June 15, July 20). Thank you for your participation.

You can download the exhibition flyer here. (PDF:2,940KB)