Event Listing - Museums, Galleries

Thu Jun 18 - Sun Sep 20

Lords of the

Samurai

Brilliant Warriors. Artistic Masters.

Website

Location

Date and Time

Asian Art Museum

200 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102 map
cross street: Civic Center Plaza
district: Civic Center

Thu Jun 18 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm Evening hours Thursdays until 9:00 pm)

Fri Jun 19 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm Evening hours Thursdays until 9:00 pm)

Sat Jun 20 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm Evening hours Thursdays until 9:00 pm)

Sun Jun 21 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm Evening hours Thursdays until 9:00 pm)

Tue Jun 23 (10:00 am to 5:00 pm Evening hours Thursdays until 9:00 pm)

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Description

The samurai culture and code of conduct, bushido, have long captivated the imaginations and aspirations of young and old in the Western world. More than just professional warriors, Japanese samurai of the highest rank were also visionaries who strove to master artistic, cultural, and spiritual pursuits.

Lords of the Samurai takes an intimate look at the daimyo, or provincial lords of the warrior class in feudal Japan. The Hosokawa clan, powerful military nobles with a 600-year-old lineage, embodied this duality of fierce warrior and refined gentleman.

The exhibition features more than 160 works from the Hosokawa family collection housed in the Eisei-Bunko Museum in Tokyo, and from Kumamoto Castle and the Kumamoto Municipal Museum in Kyushu. Objects on view include suits of armor, armaments (including swords and guns), formal attire, calligraphy, paintings, tea wares, lacquerware, masks, and musical instruments.

The Asian Art Museum is the only U.S. venue for this exhibition.