Page 158 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

148 | A HIGHLY IMPORTANT STATUE
OF JIZO BOSATSU, KAMAKURA

Japan, Kei School, Kamakura period (1185–1333)

AMS 14C (carbon 14) analysis report (HEKAL code I/2345, lab
code DeA-24407, sample number I/2345/2) issued by Isotoptech
Laboratories of Debrecen, Hungary, on April 20th, 2020, sets the
exact date of creation of the present statue to AD 1225-1283.
War of 1180-1185. The Kei school was granted the opportunity
to restore Nara’s greatest temples, the Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji,
replacing their Buddhist sculptures. The Kei school’s strong and
traditional style earned it the favor of the Kamakura shogunate,
catapulting it to great success and influence. The restoration
project lasted several generations, from roughly 1180 to 1212, and
drew extensively on Tang and Song Chinese styles, introducing new
stylistic elements while remaining true to tradition. New human
iconographic forms emerged, with greater simplicity and realism,
and more subdued colors. For the first time, crystals were used for
the third eyes of statues. While the Kei school style recalls elements
of Nara period sculpture, Joan Stanley Baker describes the works
as less idealized, generic, and impersonal than Nara works. The
sculptors of the Kei school focused on the distinctive identity of
each statue’s subject, and on physical details.

Jizo Bosatsu (the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha) is a merciful figure
who alone among Buddhist deities moves through the six worlds
who alone among Buddhist deities moves through the six worlds
of illusion in his role of saving all sentient beings. He is known for
of illusion in his role of saving all sentient beings. He is known for
his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the
his vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the
six worlds between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of
six worlds between the death of Gautama Buddha and the rise of
Maitreya, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all
Maitreya, as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all
hells are emptied. He is therefore often regarded as the guardian
hells are emptied. He is therefore often regarded as the guardian
of children in Japanese culture, where he is known as Jizo or Ojizo-
of children in Japanese culture, where he is known as Jizo or Ojizo-
sama.
In the present example Jizo Bosatsu is depicted as a monk with
Jizo Bosatsu is depicted as a monk with
a shaved head standing in front of an eight-leaved lotus bud halo
a shaved head standing in front of an eight-leaved lotus bud halo
from which dramatized beams of light emerge, all on a wood stand
from which dramatized beams of light emerge, all on a wood stand
carved as a solitaire lotus flower springing from craggy layered
carved as a solitaire lotus flower springing from craggy layered
rocks.
The figure is carved from cypress wood and of hollow construction,
The figure is carved from cypress wood and of hollow construction,
formed of several components fitted together (yosegi-zukuri),
and bears a third eye made from inlaid crystal on the forehead, a
and bears a third eye made from inlaid crystal on the forehead, a
feature introduced during the Kamakura period.
The statue is slender and delicate, exudes an elegant serenity as it
The statue is slender and delicate, exudes an elegant serenity as it
stands with the left hand raised to hold a wish-fulfilling jewel to light
stands with the left hand raised to hold a wish-fulfilling jewel to light
up the darkness, the right lowered to hold a staff (both attributes
up the darkness, the right lowered to hold a staff (both attributes
now lost), wearing robe open at the torso and falling in rhythmic
now lost), wearing robe open at the torso and falling in rhythmic A late 12th century sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai from the Kei
A late 12th century sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai from the Kei
pleats, the body applied with both polished and matted gold school, attributed to Unkei, sold at Christies on March 18th,
lacquer and elaborate minute kirikane (cut gold foil) to reveal key 2008, for USD 14,37 million, establishing a new world record
fret and foliate scrolls, both highly characteristic of sculptures from for Japanese art at auction.
Kamakura period.
Given its grand scale, it is most likely that the present figure graced
a public altar in Nara, possibly at either the Todai-ji or the Kofuku-ji. HEIGHT 113 cm (including the highest beam), 93 cm (just the figure
on it‘s base, but without the light beams), 58 cm (just the figure
Kamakura is a period of Japanese history that marks the without the halo and the base)
governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in
1192 in Kamakura by the first Shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo. Condition: Overall superb and original condition, extremely rare
The period is known for the emergence of the samurai, the warrior when considering the age of almost 800 years. Both attributes
caste, and for the establishment of feudalism in Japan. lost. Minor losses, chips, dents and age crackling all around. Some
smaller breaks, structural fissures. Minor heat damage. The gilding
Kei was a Japanese school of Buddhist sculpture which emerged with extensive patina and areas of darkening. Some pitting. All
in the early Kamakura period (circa 1200). Based in Nara, it was the damages absolutely commensurate with age.
dominant school of Buddhist sculpture in Japan well into the 14th Provenance: From a Hungarian private collector. By repute
century and remained influential for a long time. Art historian Joan acquired from the Cserno Collection, Amsterdam.
Stanley Baker cites the Kei school’s early works as the last highpoint
in the history of Japanese sculpture. Estimate EUR 100,000
Much of the cities of Nara and Kyoto were destroyed in the Genpei Starting price EUR 50,000
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