Outline & Contents
Since the publication in 2006, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code has become a world bestseller, selling over
700 millions in 44 languages. However, when Da Vinci’s paintings are exposed in the novel, his
interpretation sometimes shows insufficiencies, and in the second half in particular, some serious
misunderstandings. If such is the case, why not search out the ‘true story’ instead of believing the
author uncritically like so many people?
In this light, the point of my talk is to communicate to you what the real truth is on this matter. I
will explain the message Leonardo da Vinci actually concealed in some of his paintings, − to be precise,
the spiritual, religious meaning of the Holy Grail, the Holy Lance, etc., not the places where they were
hidden.
Da Vinci concealed an at least three-fold secret in his works. To make out what this was all about, we
have to view some of his paintings within a big-picture perspective and interpret them at and across
multiple levels. In the first lecture, we look at the first of the secrets contained in these paintings.
1. Introduction to the Lecture Series on the “Da Vinci Code”
(00:00:00)
・This lecture series titled “The True Story of The Da Vinci Code”discusses the true spiritual, religious
message da Vince concealed in his works.
・Dan Brown failed to make correct interpretations on this matter, especially in the latter part of his
novel. (In this connection, reference is also made to Mona Lisa wo toku [Solving the riddle of Mona
Lisa] by Naotake Syuto.)
2. The Secret of The Mona Lisa
(00:05:37)
In truth, who was Mona Lisa? First, let’s look at da Vinci’s relationship with the Priory of Sion, a
European secret society, and then the message in the Vitruvian Man as well as the secret code hidden in
The Mona Lisa as exposed in Dan Brown’s novel. Here, by contrast, reference is also made to Mr. Shuto’s
Mona Lisa wo toku (2004).
3. Hieros Gamos or Sacred Marriage
(00:17:36)
The concept of hieros gamos, essential to understand da Vinci’s painting, is explained.
4. The Virgin of the Rocks
(00:20:33)
The first painted Virgin of the Rocks is very important because we can decode da Vinci’s thought by
analyzing this painting. Since Dan Brown’s work has addressed just a part (I would say, one tenth) of
this riddle, it is the main purpose of the present lecture to present how to solve it.
5. The Priory of Sion and the Knights Templar
(00:27:56)
What was the true reason for founding the Priory of Sion and the Knights Templar? The origin of the
legend of Holy Grail is discussed.
6. Syncretism of Christianity and Mythraism
(00:35:50)
Under the regime of Constantine the Great, the early Christianity was altered by syncretization with
Mithraism. That is to say, the Christianity as we know it today is quite different from the early, or
true Christianity. In order to solve the riddle of da Vinci’s paining, we need to know what the early
Christianity and Mithraism were each all about.
7. The Key to Solve the Riddle of the Holy Grail in The Last Supper
(00:43:25)
There are some enigmatic points about da Vinci’s Last Supper. What is the true identity of the Holy
Grail as decoded from the message hidden in this painting? Is there another way of interpretation?
References
- The Da Vinci Code, Dun Brown.
- Da Vinci no ango [Secret Codes of da Vinci], Kiyoshi Tanabe, Takarajimasya.
- Mona Lisa o toku [Solving the Riddle of Mona Lisa], Naotake Syuto, Sangokan.
- Shukan bijyutsukan Leonardo da Vinci, Shogakukan.
- The Vitruvius Man by Leonardo da Vinci, in the Academia Museum, Venice.
- The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci, in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
- The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci, in the National Gallery, London.
- The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, in the Santa Maria Delle Gravie, Milan.
