【Discover the Feature Exhibition】OMOU（思・想・念）

 ―Thinking about something…―

Feature Exhibition Room 4,

February 1st (Tue.) ~ April 17th (Sun.), 2022

Noh Mask 'Oumi-onna' used for the role of woman in intense love

We live our Lives thinking about many things. When we think about it, we realize that the word ”Omou（思う）or "think" has many different meanings, and we have many different kinds of thoughts in our minds.

For example, to picture a person you love : “Omoi (想い)”, or to keep the sorrow of parting from your loved ones in your heart forever : “Omoi (懐い)”. These have the same sounds, but different Kanji characters, and slightly different meanings. 

There are many more forms of "Omoi". 

In contrast to the tranquil thoughts of everyday life: “Omoi(思い)”, there are also more powerful thoughts about extraordinary things: “Omoi (念い) ".

Picture of a husband burning incense, and seeing an apparition of his wife in the smoke

It can also have social meaning, like "pray", or "hope" for something, or even promise. For example, in agriculture and fishing we pray for a bountiful harvest with single-minded devotion. Also, thoughts that connect us to places beyond our human understanding are essential for our community life : “Omoi (推い) ”.

“Omoi” can also be the simple thought of someone else in our everyday lives. It is also “Omoi” to care about the future of our children, and to reminisce about our departed parents. All of these forms of "Omoi" mean that we move freely through time into the past, present or the future in our thoughts. Thanks to the thoughts that persist constantly in our minds: “Omoi (意い) ” , we have the power to live in this world, respond immediately to anything in it.

Yes, we all live our lives with a variety of thoughts and feelings, and all of these are "Omoi."

Entrance to the exhibition