Festivals and Films

The tale of the Bamboo Cutter

From 10 May 2012 to 05 Aug 2012

11 May - 5 August. Dublin's Chester Beatty Library celebrates the Japanese tale of the "Bamboo Cutter" with a pair of 17th-century scrolls, believed to be the earliest surviving illustrated version of the ancient tale.

One of the most important and influential stories in Japanese classical literature, the Bamboo Cutter was written in the early Heian period (794-1185), and is the oldest Japanese work of prose fiction.

The recently-restored narrative scrolls are representative of the Japanese emakimono tradition which involves alternating paintings with elaborate cursive text.

For a full list of public events associated with the exhibition see the website.