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Wang Xizhi’s Sangluan Letter
The exhibition starts its story with the Sangluan Letter of Wang Xizhi, the sage of calligraphy, brought from China in the Nara period.
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Wang Xizhi’s Sangluan Letter (part of the Tang-dynasty copy, public domain), shown in this exhibition. · Report image rightsTokyo · JapanArt exhibitions
2027.03.25 — 2027.05.16 · Coming soon
Thirteen hundred years, stroke by stroke.
Japanese Calligraphy: A 1,300-Year Legacy of Beauty — Tokyo
The last of the Sannomaru Shozokan’s grand opening exhibitions traces 1,300 years of Japanese calligraphy, starting from the Sangluan Letter of the sage of calligraphy Wang Xizhi, brought from China in the Nara period, with distinctive works from the collection, emperors’ own writing, sutras copied in faith and the ink of Zen monks. Nurtured at court, among nobles and in temples and shrines, calligraphy became part of everyday culture. At a time when we rarely write by hand, the organisers hope visitors will rediscover the pleasure of reading, writing and looking at calligraphy through each era’s taste and each writer’s character. It runs from 25 March to 16 May 2027 in two rotations with major changes of works.
GOWOAH / Tokyo
A REASON TO GO
A REASON TO GO
Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan2027.03.25 — 2027.05.16Art exhibitionsTicket required
FIND YOUR REASON
What draws you to this experience?
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Emperors’ own hands
Emperors’ own writing appears alongside sutras copied in faith and the ink of Zen monks, each with its own hand.
Art exhibitions03
Thirteen centuries of calligraphy
From the Nara period to today, see how Japanese calligraphy moved from court, nobles and temples into everyday life.
Art exhibitionsProgramme, background & sources
Checked · 2026-10-15
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2023 · 江戸村のとくぞう · Photo source · CC0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
MAKE IT YOUR EXPERIENCE
Does this fit what you are looking for?
This could be for you if you are…
- Lovers of calligraphy and old Chinese and Japanese writing
- Anyone in Tokyo in spring
Before you decide
The sale date is not out yet; entry needs a booked date and time.
The works change substantially between the two rotations.
Closed Mondays, plus 20 April and 6 May.
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No gallery plan has been published for this exhibition.
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Dates & times
2027.03.25 — 2027.05.16Thursday 25 March to Sunday 16 May 2027 (Japan time), in two rotations with major changes: 25 March–18 April and 21 April–16 May. 9:30am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm), until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays (last entry 7:30pm). Closed Mondays (open 3 May) and on 20 April and 6 May.
Asia/TokyoMore programme details
- Wang Xizhi’s Sangluan Letter
- Emperors’ own hands
- Thirteen centuries of calligraphy
Venue & travel
Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru ShozokanThe Sannomaru Shozokan is inside the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, 1-8 Chiyoda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, about 100 m from the Ōte-mon gate; about 5 minutes on foot from exit C13a of Ōtemachi station and 15 minutes from the Marunouchi North Exit of Tokyo station.
Entry & companions
Entry is by booked date and time; there are no same-day tickets at the venue. School and university students and under-23s are free, as are disability certificate holders with one carer; most free visitors must also book and show a student card or ID (except primary school children and younger). You may have to wait to enter on busy days. The museum is inside the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, with security checks at the entrance.
Tickets & access
JPY 2,500
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Sources & image credits
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
After Wang Xizhi · Public domain Image source
Museum of the Imperial Collections, the Yomiuri Shimbun and NHK
Wang Xizhi’s Sangluan Letter (part of the Tang-dynasty copy, public domain), shown in this exhibition.
Information checked on 2026-10-15
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