First, "A Discerning Eye: The Aoyama San'u Collection, " works of ancient Chinese painting and calligraphy from Aoyama's private holdings.

WSJ: The Vision and Calligraphy of Aoyama San'u | Tokyo National Museum | Transformational Characters | By Michael Judge

For example, the ancient "painting kit" contained red ochre and was likely used as body paint, just as the Himba people of Namibia use it today.

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The technique is mainly passed from fathers to children or from masters to apprentices strictly following ancient Buddhist painting books that provide instruction on line and figure drawing, colour matching and pattern design.

UNESCO: Culture

Ancient Rome was as likely to turn up in a painting of Queen Elizabeth as an American Indian cherub (with ostrich) in an engraving of London.

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But the island's one-of-a-kind culture is kept alive with activities and festivals that highlight ancient arts such as spear throwing, tobogganing, dancing and body painting.

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