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Read the following story by Pichaya Svasti from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
An art exhibition to celebrate the 130th anniversary of official Thai-Japanese ties is currently being held in the heart of Bangkok.
BROTHERHOOD OF NATIONS
Until February 18, the National Museum Bangkok is host to an extraordinary display of art and artefacts from Japan, including many items that are considered to be part of the nation’s cultural heritage. Featuring ancient earthenware, classical fabrics and Buddhist and samurai relics, The History of Japanese Art: Life and Faith, shows off the incredible richness of Japanese culture.
The ongoing event is part of celebrations marking 130 years of official amity between Thailand and Japan.
According to Fine Arts Department Director-General Anandha Chuchoti, Thailand and Japan have a long history of cultural exchange. Last year, 116 antiques and art pieces from Thailand went on display at the special exhibition, Thailand: Brilliant Land of the Buddha, at Kyushu National Museum and Tokyo National Museum.
Now, the National Museum’s Siwamokkhaphiman Hall boasts 106 antiques and art pieces from Japan.
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
The exhibition provides a journey through the history of Japanese art and culture, from the samurai to the tea ceremony to Zen Buddhism. Among the many highlights are a flame-shaped piece of pottery from the prehistoric Jomon era (14,000-300 BC) and a statue of the standing Amitabha Buddha with two attendants dating to the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD).
“Japan has never allowed anybody to borrow so many things before. One of the must-sees is the statue of the new-born Lord Buddha,” said Phnombootra Chandrajoti, director of the Office of National Museums.
ONE STEP FURTHER
Zeniya Masami, executive director of the Tokyo National Museum, said the exhibition utilises archaeological objects, paintings, sculptures, decorative art and calligraphy to tell the story of Japanese culture from the Jomon period to the Edo period (1603-1868 AD).
Among the objects on display, three are officially registered as National Treasures and 25 as Important Cultural Properties.
In 2011, Bangkok hosted an exhibition that focused on Buddhist art from Thailand and Japan, as well as cultural exchanges between the two countries. Today’s exhibition goes one step further, said Zeniya, by presenting the entire history of Japanese art before modernisation.
BUDDHIST ARTS
The exhibition is divided into five areas. These are the Dawn of Japanese Art, Buddhist Art, the Court Aristocracy and the Samurai, Zen and the Tea Ceremony and the Multifaceted Edo Culture. The objects on display give an insight into the lifestyles, beliefs and customs of various regions of the country at different points throughout its history.
The section that Thai visitors will best relate to is the Buddhist Art section. This portrays the nature of Buddhism and the evolution of Buddhist art in Japan. The reign of Emperor Kinmei in the middle of the 6th century is believed to mark the arrival of Buddhism in the country. Bronze Buddha statues, ritual banners and Buddhist scriptures were brought to Japan from Korea.
For more information, contact the National Museum Bangkok on 02 224 1333.
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the story about?
a. An exhibition of Japanese art in Thailand.
b. An exhibition of Thai art in Japan.
c. An exhibition of Thai and Japanese art.
2. When does the exhibition finish?
a. This month.
b. Next month.
c. In two months.
3. How many pieces are on display at the event?
a. 130.
b. 116.
c. 106.
4. What is the theme of the exhibition?
a. Post-industrial Japanese art and culture.
b. The entire history of Japanese art.
c. Pre-modern Japanese art and culture.
5. Who is Phnombootra Chandrajoti?
a. Director of the Office of National Museums.
b. General director of the Department of Fine Arts.
c. Executive director of the Tokyo National Museum.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Thailand: Brilliant Land of the Buddha was held in Japan in 2015.
b. Kyushu National Museum is located in Tokyo.
c. The exhibition is divided into five parts.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. One part of the exhibition focuses on religion.
b. Thailand and Japan have maintained diplomatic relations for more than a century.
c. The exhibition displays 25 National Treasures and three Important Cultural Properties.
Section 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8. artefact | a. related to the study of cultures of the past and of periods of history by examining the remains of buildings and objects found in the ground |
| 9. earthenware | b. an object that is made of very hard baked clay |
| 10. tie | c. a series of actions that are always performed in the same way, especially as part of a religious ceremony |
| 11. ritual | d. an object that is made by a person, especially something of historical or cultural interest |
| 12. prehistoric | e. a strong connection between people or organisations |
| 13.archaeological | f. connected with the time in history before information was written down |
Section 3
Read the following passge. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words form the choices given.
The invention of earthenware occurred …..14….. the Jomon Period (11,000-400 BC). A piece that shows a focus …..15….. decorativeness more than practicality …..16….. a flame-shaped earthenware vessel of the mid-Jomon period. It dates from about 4,500 years ago and …..17….. found in Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture. It is …..18….. a truly wonderful piece of formative art and one of the finest examples of …..19….. prehistoric earthenware.
14.
a. on
b. in
c. at
15.
a. on
b. in
c. at
16.
a. are
b. is
c. was
17.
a. are
b. is
c. was
18.
a. consider
b. considering
c. considered
19.
a. globe
b. global
c. globalised
Section 4
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, adjective or adverb.
20. fabric
……………………
21. ongoing
……………………
22. officially
……………………
23. divided
……………………
24. exchange
……………………
Answers
Section 1
1. a.
2. b.
3. c.
4. c.
5. a.
6. c.
7. c.
Section 2
8. d.
9. b.
10. e.
11. c.
12. f.
13. a.
Section 3
14. b.
15. a.
16. b.
17. c.
18. c.
19. b.
Section 4
20. Noun.
21. Adjective.
22. Adverb.
23. Verb.
24. Noun.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
