Unkei: inori no kūkan : Kōfukuji Hokuendō : tokubetsuten = Expressing prayer, capturing form Buddhist sculptures by Unkei : from the Northern Round Hall of Kohfukuji Temple : special exhibition

Abstract

"As one of the key components of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara World Heritage Site, Kohfukuji, the head temple of the Hossō sect of Buddhism, attracts many visitors both from Japan and from abroad. The Northern Round Hall, located in the northwest part of the temple grounds, was built in 721 (Yōrō 5) in memory of the courtier Fujiwara no Fuhito on the first anniversary of his death, and nine Buddhist statues were enshrined there. In the ensuing years, the hall endured two separate disasters and was ultimately reconstructed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). This Northern Round Hall is now a designated National Treasure. At the time of the reconstruction, the sculptor Unkei (?-1223) and his atelier were commissioned to carve the deity figures. Of the nine works that were installed at that time, two attendant figures have been lost, but the Seated Miroku Nyorai and Standing Mujaku and Seshin Bosatsu figures currently reside in the Northern Round Hall, and it is widely believed that the Shitennō (Four Deva Kings) figures that are currently housed in the Central Golden Hall are the ones that were originally enshrined in the Northern Round Hall. This exhibition recreates the look of the Northern Round Hall as it would have been at the time of the Kamakura restoration, utilizing the seven existing National Treasure figures. The Miroku Nyorai figure has recently undergone restoration and is being displayed here for the first time since its completion"-- Foreword (page 127).