Śākyamuni (Seiryō-ji type) 釈迦如来立像（清凉寺式）しゃかにょらいりゅうぞう（せいりょうじしき）

Description

By legend, the Udayana Buddha was a sandalwood image carved in the presence of Śākyamuni himself. The image of Shakamuni (Skt. Śākyamuni) enshrined at Seiryōji Temple in Kyoto is believed to be a copy of that first-ever Buddha image, and this statue is a copy of the Seiryōji Shaka. An ink inscription on the pedestal tells us that this copy was dedicated in 1273 (Bun’ei 10), and that it was produced by the Buddhist sculptor Genkai (dates unknown). There is a reliquary interred within the statue’s head that appears to be made of crystal; this is inserted into metal fittings at the top and bottom. The reliquary has a hinge on one side and a clasp on the other so it can be opened and closed.

The statue of Śākyamuni which priest Chōnen brought back from China to Seiryō-ji Temple in Kyoto had been extensively admired, therefore many works were reproduced in the Kamakura period. The present statue constitutes one of the reproductions. The ink inscription was written on the pedestal, describing the date of fabrication as well as the name of prayer and sculptor.

{br=>[[]], content=>[The original statue of Shaka-nyorai (Śākyamuni) in Seiryō-ji temple in Kyoto, which was brought from China in 986 by Priest Chōnen (?-1016) of Tōdai-ji temple, had received special respect because of its human appearance. During the Kamakura period, influenced by the movement for the revival of classic style statues, many copies of Seiryō-ji type statues were produced and distributed all over Japan. The statue introduced in this article is one of them; it was made by the order of Priest Eison (1201-1290) in Saidai-ji temple and his colleagues. According to the inscription written in ink on the seat of the statue, this statue was made by sculptor Genkai in 1273., Its body from head to toe was made of a single block of hinoki wood (Japanese cypress) to which hands were attached. The core of the statue is not carved out. The eye balls as well as other objects were inserted into the statue by splitting the back side of the head. The style of the sleeved garment, the curving parallel lines of the drapes, and the expression of hair, which looks like bonds of ropes, were modeled after the statue of Seiryō-ji temple. However, the sculpturing style of the Kamakura period is clearly observable in this statue.]}

{br=>[[]], content=>[Seiryōji Temple is located in the Saga area of Kyoto. Its principal image of worship is a w ooden statue of the historical buddha Śākyamuni (National Treasure). Seiryōji’s statue was made in China, supposedly as a copy of an image of Śākyamuni made by King Udanaya. The copy was commissioned by the monk Chōnen (938–1016) when he traveled to China in 985 (Yongxi 2) during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). Historically, Chōnen’s statue attracted a following as “Śākyamuni of three countries” in reference to the image’s journey across India and China before reaching Japan. This work is one of several copies that were made from the Kamakura period (1185–1333) onward. It clearly follows the distinct iconographic features of Seiryōji’s statue, including: the hair resembling coiled ropes, a monastic robe with the collar drawn up, and the d ensely placed concentric folds in the robe. Yet, unlike the original’s more foreign appearance, this copy strongly reflects the tastes of the Kamakura period, incorporating the era’s distinct directness of form. The head is disproportionately large, and the concentric folds in the robe extend down into the area between both legs. These alterations produce a weaker rendition of the original statue’s unique aura. , An ink inscription on the base of the pedestal reveals the statue was made by the sculptor-priest Genkai (dates unknown), in Bun’ei 10 (1273) using recycled materials from the Main Hall of Furuhashidera of Gangōji Temple. There are no other known statues by Genkai, and the sculpting school he was affiliated with is also unknown. The statue was carved from a single block of Japanese torreya, but the back of the head was made from a separate piece of wood. The inside of the head was hollowed out, crystal eyes were inlaid, and objects were deposited inside. ]}