YORU ZEN - Find Your Own Zen -

Projection mapping display with the high resolution facsimile of “The Wind and Thunder Gods” in "YORU ZEN," a visual experience event held at Kenninji Temple, Kyoto

“YORU ZEN - Find Your Own Zen -”, a visual experience event, was hosted at Kyoto's Kenninji Temple, the head temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, from October 15 to October 30, 2022.

This event was hosted to provide a new way to experience images through the combination of cultural treasures and Canon imaging technologies. A new means to appreciate cultural assets was made possible with the three imaging technologies, including projection mapping, mixed reality (MR), and augmented reality (AR).

Particularly notable was the projection mapping, in which we displayed images of the high resolution facsimile of the national treasure “The Wind and Thunder Gods,” which was donated to Kenninji Temple by the Tsuzuri Project. Visitors enjoyed one of the work’s interpretations of “the Wind God carrying seeds and the Thunder God bringing rain to create a bountiful harvest of the five sacred grains” along with spectacular images and stereophonic sounds.

We also presented an interactive content for “Daiou-en (Grand Garden)” Japanese dry garden using Canon's MR system as well as a content allowing visitors to enjoy the AR audio-visual experience of the “Twin Dragons” ceiling painting in Hattou (Dharma Hall) of Kenninji Temple. Visitors were able to deeply experience the messages behind these works through the world of zen expressed through MR and AR images.