The portrait statue of the priest Kuya preaching, was made by Kosho in the Kamakura period, early 13th century, in Rokuharamitsuji, Kyoto. With 3’ 10¼” high, this statue it was made of painted wood and with inlaid eyes. The portrait statue of the priest Kuya preaching, reveals some aspect of the religious life of the monk, but because of there is no information about the priest life style or family, before he converted to a completely Buddhist man.
In the statue of Kuya, the artist puts different objects that identified the monk lifestyle. Starting from the top of the sculpture, the monk have an expression full of desire in his face. The head in the sculpture if full with carefully made details. From the statue mouth are emerging six small figures giving the impression that he is talking of or begging to those small figures.
Then in the neck the artist still putting lot of detail with the carefully sculpted bones, followed by a small gong near his midriff and a mallet in his right hand to hit the gong. In his left hand, he have a staff tipped with a deer antler. His …show more content…
The words “Namu Amida Butsu,” mean “’Praise to Amida Buddha’.” In Chilson’s work is mentioned that Kuya was known as a man who was always preaching out in the street. Kuya it was also known as a monk that followed or lived what he preached about.
The material of this sculpture “displays a strikingly realistic style that is believed to have originate with the artist’s father, Unkei.” Kuya’s statue probably was made of the “three characteristic features in the construction of statues -in- the Kamakura period,” which are: “the yosegi method, the hollowing out of the interior, and the use of glass eyes.” The glass eyes gives the sense that Kuya was a divinity, and this could be because he was considered as a “holy man” He was a saint; someone admired by
In the statue of Kuya, the artist puts different objects that identified the monk lifestyle. Starting from the top of the sculpture, the monk have an expression full of desire in his face. The head in the sculpture if full with carefully made details. From the statue mouth are emerging six small figures giving the impression that he is talking of or begging to those small figures.
Then in the neck the artist still putting lot of detail with the carefully sculpted bones, followed by a small gong near his midriff and a mallet in his right hand to hit the gong. In his left hand, he have a staff tipped with a deer antler. His …show more content…
The words “Namu Amida Butsu,” mean “’Praise to Amida Buddha’.” In Chilson’s work is mentioned that Kuya was known as a man who was always preaching out in the street. Kuya it was also known as a monk that followed or lived what he preached about.
The material of this sculpture “displays a strikingly realistic style that is believed to have originate with the artist’s father, Unkei.” Kuya’s statue probably was made of the “three characteristic features in the construction of statues -in- the Kamakura period,” which are: “the yosegi method, the hollowing out of the interior, and the use of glass eyes.” The glass eyes gives the sense that Kuya was a divinity, and this could be because he was considered as a “holy man” He was a saint; someone admired by