Who are Unkei and Kaikei?

Who are Unkei and Kaikei?

Kaikei, also called Anami Butsu, (flourished 1183–1236), Japanese sculptor who helped establish the traditional pattern of Buddhist sculpture. Together with his father, Kōkei, and his brother Unkei, he made statues for the temples of Kōfuku and Tōdai in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan.

Who created the wooden statue of muchaku?

Sometime between 1208 and 1212, Unkei sculpted a figure of a Miroku Butsu (Sanskrit: Maitreya Buddha) at Tōdai-ji, along with several accompanied figures. These included two bodhisattva, the Shitennō (Four Heavenly Kings), and a pair of Indian rakan (Sanskrit: arhats) named Muchaku and Seshin.

What is the purpose of the AGYO figure by Unkei?

Agyō, the open-mouthed figure of a pair of Niō, or Heavenly Kings, both of whom are protector gods (manifestations of Vajrapani bodhisattva), painted wood sculpture by Unkei, 1203; at the Great South Gate of Tōdai Temple, Nara, Japan.

Which Japanese artist created a wooden statue?

Artist Yoshitoshi Kanemaki
Distorted Sculptures by Japanese Artist Yoshitoshi Kanemaki Japanese sculptor Yoshitoshi Kanemaki carves wooden figures with purposeful visual distortions.

At what temple complex can you find the wooden Nio guardian statues?

Todai-ji Temple
Probably the most famous one are the pair found at Todai-ji Temple in Nara, towering 26 ft in height, they date from 1203.

How did Kamakura period end?

The Kamakura period ended in 1333 with the destruction of the shogunate and the short re-establishment of imperial ruler Emperor Go-Daigo by Ashikaga Takauji, Nitta Yoshisada, and Kusunoki Masashige.

How big is Todai?

The current building was finished in 1709, and although immense—57 metres (187 ft) long, 50 metres (160 ft) wide and 49 metres (161 ft) high—it is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor, being reduced from 11 to 7 bays wide due to lack of funds. Until 1998, it was the world’s largest wooden building.

What does NIO mean in Japanese?

Benevolent Kings
The word nio itself is said to mean “Benevolent Kings” and some stories say they traveled with and protected the historical Buddha. Nio are also known as Kongo Rikishi and Shukongoshin. Alternatively nio are known as Misshaku Kongo and Naraen Kongo.

What is Hachiman the God of?

Hachiman, (Japanese: Eight Banners) one of the most popular Shintō deities of Japan; the patron deity of the Minamoto clan and of warriors in general; often referred to as the god of war..

How old was Unkei when he became a sculptor?

Unkei became a sculptor of merit before age 20 and was commissioned by the Kamakura shogunate (the military government with headquarters in Kamakura) to make statues for the Kōfuku Temple and Tōdai Temple in Nara. He undertook the task with the help of Kaikei, his father’s best pupil, and more than 20 assistants.

What did Unkei do in the Kamakura period?

Unkei ( Japanese: 運慶; c. 1150 – 1223) was a Japanese sculptor of the Kei school, which flourished in the Kamakura period. He specialized in statues of the Buddha and other important Buddhist figures. Unkei’s early works are fairly traditional, similar in style to pieces by his father, Kōkei.

When did Unkei make the Miroku Butsu figure?

Sometime between 1208 and 1212, Unkei sculpted a figure of a Miroku Butsu ( Sanskrit: Maitreya Buddha) at Tōdai-ji, along with several accompanied figures. These included two bodhisattva, the Shitennō ( Four Heavenly Kings ), and a pair of Indian rakan (Sanskrit: arhats) named Muchaku and Seshin.

Who was the founder of the Kei school?

Unkei (Japanese: 運慶; c. 1150 – 1223) was a Japanese sculptor of the Kei school, which flourished in the Kamakura period.