Asian Ghosts and Hells, pictures of the exhibition at Paris Musée du Quai Branly

Find Asia's hells and ghosts in an exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly, from April 10 to July 15, 2018. These figures, very present in Asian culture, have been found in Buddhist paintings and the living arts for thousands of years through prints: an overview!

The Musée du Quai Branly takes a look at the Underworld and ghosts of Asia in a major exhibition in the Galerie Jardin from April 10 to July 15, 2018. Spanning several centuries and 10 Asian countries, the Musée du Quai Branly offers us a panorama of beliefs about ghosts, the Underworld and the spirit world!

While, in Christianity, spirits can join the heavens, in Asia, ghosts "never die". The cult of spirits in Thailand, vengeful catwomen, hungry ghosts from the underworld, jumping vampires - Asian peoples too have a fascination with life after death (we'll learn that Buddhists also assume the existence of spirits trapped between two reincarnations). The exhibition Asian Hells and Ghosts is here to tell us all about it!

In three thematic sections on the first floor, the Musée du Quai Branly introduces us to the bestiary of the underworld (as seen from Asian countries), then to the various ghosts and wandering spirits, and concludes with funeral rites and spirit worship in Thailand, China and Vietnam.

The scenography is very well done: dark walls, the tour finely mixes thousand-year-old masks, prints, books (including mangas), film extracts and body reproductions.

At the start of the exhibition, we discover the vision of the underworld (a purgatory where the dead atone for their sins) in the various countries of East and Southeast Asia. We discover the illustrated scrolls of the Ten Kings Sutra, dating from the 10th century and found in Dunhang (China), which reveal a description of the underworld to "warn men" of their fate after death.

In China, the underground underworld reflects the medieval judicial system: the underworld is organized into 10 places presided over by king-judges, assisted by clerics and torturing demons. Underworld officials record all the actions of the living on registers, and go on to dissect Karma! In Japan, the demons of hell (oni) are horned, dressed in a tiger-skin loincloth and armed with a club - a nice preview of what awaits us!

Then, after this very "traditional" introduction, the Musée du Quai Branly surprises us with folk art, in large, spooky rooms. Wandering ghosts, vengeful ghosts, predatory ghosts, hungry revenants, a ripper who eats his victims' livers - Part 2 is not very appetizing.

There are spirit amulets (figurines of putrefied bodies from Thailand), film extracts (The Ring, of course, but also other creepy ones), and plenty of other evidence of Asian folklore, Hokusai prints, masques No from Japan, shadow figures in Thai horror manga, thepopular craze for horror is very real.

Finally, after giving us a good scare with all the ghosts and other revenants, the Musée du Quai Branly explains how Asians protect themselves from the risk of death.

Ghost hunting with a Taoist exorcist(fashi), rituals to convert the deceased into beneficial entities, zombie kung-futechniques, tips on how not to get bitten by a vampire (don't breathe, they can smell your vital breath!) and altars to pray to protective ancestors!

This comprehensive exhibition is sure to appeal to young people (although don't bring your children under 10-12), as well as film/video game and manga fans. Run to it!

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.

Asian hells and ghosts at the Musée du Quai Branly, photos of the exhibition

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