Peter Romaskiewicz, PhD
@peterromaskiewicz.bsky.social
Historian of Chinese Religions & Chinese Buddhism, interest in smell culture & aromatics; recent hummingbird whisperer, belated powerlifter, curator of Buddhas in the West Material Archive @buddhasinthewest.bsky.social
At the #Shōsōin Exhibition:
Very large brush used by Bodhisena to dot the eyes of the Great Buddha in Nara during the eye-opening consecration ceremony in 752. Also, the blue cord attached to the brush which observers held to receive merit for the act.
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
Very large brush used by Bodhisena to dot the eyes of the Great Buddha in Nara during the eye-opening consecration ceremony in 752. Also, the blue cord attached to the brush which observers held to receive merit for the act.
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
November 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM
At the #Shōsōin Exhibition:
Very large brush used by Bodhisena to dot the eyes of the Great Buddha in Nara during the eye-opening consecration ceremony in 752. Also, the blue cord attached to the brush which observers held to receive merit for the act.
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
Very large brush used by Bodhisena to dot the eyes of the Great Buddha in Nara during the eye-opening consecration ceremony in 752. Also, the blue cord attached to the brush which observers held to receive merit for the act.
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
On display at the #Shōsōin Exhibition in Nara:
8th century bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. Chemical analysis shows mirror was made in China before becoming part of the collection of Emperor Shōmu (r. 724–749).
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
8th century bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. Chemical analysis shows mirror was made in China before becoming part of the collection of Emperor Shōmu (r. 724–749).
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
October 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
On display at the #Shōsōin Exhibition in Nara:
8th century bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. Chemical analysis shows mirror was made in China before becoming part of the collection of Emperor Shōmu (r. 724–749).
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
8th century bronze mirror inlaid with mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. Chemical analysis shows mirror was made in China before becoming part of the collection of Emperor Shōmu (r. 724–749).
www.shosoin-ten.jp/info/treasur...
#正倉院
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco: "Through x-ray imaging, our conservators reveal the hidden structures and stories sealed inside these centuries-old sculptures. For the first time, we offer a hauntingly beautiful glimpse inside some of the museum’s oldest objects." (on IG)
October 28, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco: "Through x-ray imaging, our conservators reveal the hidden structures and stories sealed inside these centuries-old sculptures. For the first time, we offer a hauntingly beautiful glimpse inside some of the museum’s oldest objects." (on IG)
Contemporary artist Yuma Matsumoto makes giant figures out of straw. His most recent was a giant cat.
Recent work: awrd.com/creatives/us...
#caturday
Recent work: awrd.com/creatives/us...
#caturday
October 25, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Contemporary artist Yuma Matsumoto makes giant figures out of straw. His most recent was a giant cat.
Recent work: awrd.com/creatives/us...
#caturday
Recent work: awrd.com/creatives/us...
#caturday
Engravings of Kamakura's Hachiman Shrine pagoda were used in Aimé Humbert's works on Japan in the 1860s/70s. The Parisian lithographer copied the same image decades later, likely unaware the pagoda had been destroyed in 1870.
October 24, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Engravings of Kamakura's Hachiman Shrine pagoda were used in Aimé Humbert's works on Japan in the 1860s/70s. The Parisian lithographer copied the same image decades later, likely unaware the pagoda had been destroyed in 1870.
October 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Johnston & Hoffmann, c. 1890s.
October 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Johnston & Hoffmann, c. 1890s.
Woljeongsa Temple, Odesan, South Korea
Buddhist monastics and practitioners bury their hair after tonsure at this memorial site in the forest.
#31daysofgraves #landscape
Buddhist monastics and practitioners bury their hair after tonsure at this memorial site in the forest.
#31daysofgraves #landscape
October 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Woljeongsa Temple, Odesan, South Korea
Buddhist monastics and practitioners bury their hair after tonsure at this memorial site in the forest.
#31daysofgraves #landscape
Buddhist monastics and practitioners bury their hair after tonsure at this memorial site in the forest.
#31daysofgraves #landscape
"These objects were created with precious materials using highly sophisticated techniques... Among them are exotic items such as the Red Sandalwood Sugoroku Board...used by Emperor Shomu himself; the exquisite Blue Glass Cup...and the famous Aloeswood Incense..."Ranjatai." 👀
shosoin-ten.jp/en/
shosoin-ten.jp/en/
October 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"These objects were created with precious materials using highly sophisticated techniques... Among them are exotic items such as the Red Sandalwood Sugoroku Board...used by Emperor Shomu himself; the exquisite Blue Glass Cup...and the famous Aloeswood Incense..."Ranjatai." 👀
shosoin-ten.jp/en/
shosoin-ten.jp/en/
Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, LA, January 2025
#31daysofgraves
#31daysofgraves
October 19, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, LA, January 2025
#31daysofgraves
#31daysofgraves
This early Hollywood portrayal of Buddhism includes the curious "Seven Fold" Path...
October 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This early Hollywood portrayal of Buddhism includes the curious "Seven Fold" Path...
Gade 嘎德, "New Buddha Series: Mickey Mouse," 2008.
...Namu Amida Mousu 🌺
...Namu Amida Mousu 🌺
October 16, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Gade 嘎德, "New Buddha Series: Mickey Mouse," 2008.
...Namu Amida Mousu 🌺
...Namu Amida Mousu 🌺
Recently stumbled across the contemporary work of Tibetan artist Gade (b. 1971).
"The New Scripture: An end of year resumé of van Gogh," 2005.
"The New Scripture: An end of year resumé of van Gogh," 2005.
October 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Recently stumbled across the contemporary work of Tibetan artist Gade (b. 1971).
"The New Scripture: An end of year resumé of van Gogh," 2005.
"The New Scripture: An end of year resumé of van Gogh," 2005.
New French watercolor ink and innovative "linen" embossed cardstock transformed the postcard industry in the 1930s into a hyperreal fantasy world.
Less use of black ink meant darker colors had to enhance tonality.
www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how...
Less use of black ink meant darker colors had to enhance tonality.
www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how...
October 14, 2025 at 6:48 AM
New French watercolor ink and innovative "linen" embossed cardstock transformed the postcard industry in the 1930s into a hyperreal fantasy world.
Less use of black ink meant darker colors had to enhance tonality.
www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how...
Less use of black ink meant darker colors had to enhance tonality.
www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/how...
I still know numbers I haven't called in 20+ years!
Growing up with the push-button phone (yes, rotary was a thing too), I remember memorizing the pattern of numbers, like "I make a triangle here with 2-4-5-2."
Growing up with the push-button phone (yes, rotary was a thing too), I remember memorizing the pattern of numbers, like "I make a triangle here with 2-4-5-2."
October 14, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I still know numbers I haven't called in 20+ years!
Growing up with the push-button phone (yes, rotary was a thing too), I remember memorizing the pattern of numbers, like "I make a triangle here with 2-4-5-2."
Growing up with the push-button phone (yes, rotary was a thing too), I remember memorizing the pattern of numbers, like "I make a triangle here with 2-4-5-2."
Nice collection of religious artifacts on NY Tenement Museum's colloborative "Your Story Our Story" digital exhibit.
"We work with museums, colleges, schools, libraries, and community groups who all contribute stories from their part of the United States."
yourstory.tenement.org/stories?cate...
"We work with museums, colleges, schools, libraries, and community groups who all contribute stories from their part of the United States."
yourstory.tenement.org/stories?cate...
October 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Nice collection of religious artifacts on NY Tenement Museum's colloborative "Your Story Our Story" digital exhibit.
"We work with museums, colleges, schools, libraries, and community groups who all contribute stories from their part of the United States."
yourstory.tenement.org/stories?cate...
"We work with museums, colleges, schools, libraries, and community groups who all contribute stories from their part of the United States."
yourstory.tenement.org/stories?cate...
Unknown Japanese studio, "Yashamon," albumen print, c. 1880s/90s [modified w/music 😎]
October 11, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Unknown Japanese studio, "Yashamon," albumen print, c. 1880s/90s [modified w/music 😎]
Aloha Wanderwell, the first woman to drive around the globe, stops at the Hyōgo Daibutsu in Kobe, Japan, in 1924. Her Ford 1918 Model T is parked in front of the statue. 🌏
October 8, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Aloha Wanderwell, the first woman to drive around the globe, stops at the Hyōgo Daibutsu in Kobe, Japan, in 1924. Her Ford 1918 Model T is parked in front of the statue. 🌏
Mistaken for the Buddha? Illustrated European books from the 18th century mistakenly treated this image as the Buddha; it started as an image of a Sri Lankan king...
October 6, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Mistaken for the Buddha? Illustrated European books from the 18th century mistakenly treated this image as the Buddha; it started as an image of a Sri Lankan king...
Replica of Vietnam's Tien Mu Temple pagoda for the 1906 Colonial Exposition in Marseille.
October 1, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Replica of Vietnam's Tien Mu Temple pagoda for the 1906 Colonial Exposition in Marseille.
Fritz Kapp, albumen photograph, w/ pencil on back "Lama priests by F. Kapp./ Lama Sherb, Gyatso (front middle)/ 239.” Sold at Sotheby's November 2021. Source photo for the postcard below.
September 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Fritz Kapp, albumen photograph, w/ pencil on back "Lama priests by F. Kapp./ Lama Sherb, Gyatso (front middle)/ 239.” Sold at Sotheby's November 2021. Source photo for the postcard below.
A good stereophotograph will have depth with at least two layers so a more pronounced stereoscopic effect will occur.
Kotte Temple, Sri Lanka, 1901.
Kotte Temple, Sri Lanka, 1901.
September 22, 2025 at 11:33 PM
A good stereophotograph will have depth with at least two layers so a more pronounced stereoscopic effect will occur.
Kotte Temple, Sri Lanka, 1901.
Kotte Temple, Sri Lanka, 1901.
Felice Beato, "Bronze Statue of Jeso Sama-Hakoni Lake [sic]," albumen print, c. 1868 [modified 😎]
September 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Felice Beato, "Bronze Statue of Jeso Sama-Hakoni Lake [sic]," albumen print, c. 1868 [modified 😎]
During the height of chinoiserie, French artist Jean Barbault painted himself dressed as a "Chinese Ambassador" for the 1748 Roman Carnival Masquerade.
His remarkable hat was topped by a tiny sitting buddha, wearing the same hat.
His remarkable hat was topped by a tiny sitting buddha, wearing the same hat.
September 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
During the height of chinoiserie, French artist Jean Barbault painted himself dressed as a "Chinese Ambassador" for the 1748 Roman Carnival Masquerade.
His remarkable hat was topped by a tiny sitting buddha, wearing the same hat.
His remarkable hat was topped by a tiny sitting buddha, wearing the same hat.