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Sculpture

Seated Vairocana

(Dainichi Nyoraizazo)

  • Specific information

    Important Cultural Property

  • Country

    Japan

  • Era

    Heian period (12th century)

  • Traits

    Wooden lacquer and foil

  • Number of members

    1 body

  • Law

    height 92.2 cm

  • Commentary

    In esoteric Buddhism, Dainichi Nyorai is a Buddha who is considered to be at the centre of the world. There are two ways of expressing this world: the "Vajrayana Realm," which shows the overall system, and the "Tanzang Realm," which shows the roles of the Buddhas that make it up, and the form of the Buddha varies slightly in each case. This statue is Dainichi Nyorai of the Vajrayana Realm, with his left index finger in the right hand in the wisdom fist mudra. With half-closed eyes, a calm expression and a rounded, well-proportioned body, this style of Buddhist statue is known as the "Jocho style," and was popular in the capital during the Heian period. This statue was located at Kawai-dera Temple in Kawachinagano City, Osaka Prefecture, which shows that the trend in the capital had spread to the surrounding areas as well.

Zao Gongen Statue

(Zaogon Genryuzo)

  • Specific information

    Important Art Objects

  • Country

    Japan

  • Era

    Heian period (12th century)

  • Traits

    wooden painted

  • Number of members

    1 body

  • Law

    Height 113.0 cm

  • Commentary

    Zao Gongen, the chief deity of Mount Kinpu in the Yoshino mountains of the Kii Peninsula, has been the object of worship in Shugendo since the mid-Heian period. A "Gongen" is a Buddha who appears in a temporary form, and at the time, Zao Gongen was believed to have immense miraculous powers, combining the powers of Buddhas such as Shakyamuni and Maitreya. This statue was carved from a single piece of cypress wood, with the body except for the arms, and the rock at the feet. It is a typical example of Zao Gongen, with angry eyes, flaming hair standing on end, left hand on hip, right hand raised high, and right foot raised in valiant spirits. The folds of the robes are not carved in detail, and the statue is simple and powerful, with sword marks remaining, and one can see the faith that sought to maximize the spiritual power of this statue. It was handed down to Kawai-dera Temple in Osaka along with the seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai.

Ancient civil servant statue

(Ancient Japanese Literature)

  • author

    Hisakazu Takeuchi

  • Years of birth and death

    1857-1916

  • Country

    Japan

  • Era

    Date of production unknown

  • Traits

    Painted wooden part

  • Number of members

    1 body

  • Law

    Height 31.7 cm

  • Commentary

    Takeuchi Kyuichi was born in Asakusa, Edo. He first worked as an ivory carver, but was so impressed by the ancient Buddha statues at Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara that he studied under the sculptor Kano Tetsuya and decided to become a wood carver. He gained the acquaintance of Okakura Tenshin, a leading figure in the art world, and continued to study, including participating in surveys of ancient temples and shrines, before becoming a professor of sculpture at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts). In 1893, he exhibited his masterpiece "Gigai Ten" at the Chicago World's Fair, and in 1906, he became a master of colored sculpture and was appointed an Imperial Household Artist. This small sculpture is a rare work by Kyuichi, who excelled in coloring, and is almost entirely finished. The color is only seen in the eyes, mouth, and the sword worn at his waist, showing off the precision of his carving technique. Donated by Morioka Keiichiro in 1998.

Reda

  • author

    Masahiro Sawada

  • Years of birth and death

    1894-1988

  • Country

    Japan

  • Era

    1958 (Showa 33)

  • Traits

    wooden painted

  • Number of members

    1 body

  • Law

    height 147 cm

  • Commentary

    Masahiro Sawada was born in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. He studied under wood sculptor Zuiun Yamamoto, and was active in the Teiten and Nitten exhibitions with his poetic works based on myths and legends, bringing a breath of fresh air to the world of Japanese wood sculpting. He is an advisor to the Nitten exhibition and a recipient of the Order of Culture.
    Sawada Masahiro's first Shin-Nihon Exhibition entry. Leda is a woman who appears in Greek mythology, who bore three children with the great god Zeus, who was transformed into a swan. By combining the world of Western mythology with traditional Japanese woodcarving, he has created a unique world. This masterpiece is carved from a single piece of camphor wood, with the body and base painted in a divine gold color. It is a masterpiece that profoundly expresses the world of the gods.