He is a mild-faced figure, probably sitting in meditation (zazen), the one that welcomes visitors to the exhibition “Masterpieces of Japanese Buddhist Sculpture” curated by Takeo Oku, at the Quirinale Stables until 4 September. It is the first work that can be seen and it could not be otherwise since it depicts Shaka Nyorai, that is, the one who has reached enlightenment once the cycle of reincarnations through the six worlds is concluded, those in which, according to all beings endowed with a soul must pass. In this case it is a bronze work of about 60 centimeters, dating back to the 7th century and coming from Tokyo but all the other 20 works on display, from the Asuka period to the Kamakura period (7th-14th century), are made of wood or wooden materials.
PICTURES
Nyorai, together with Bosatsu, Myoo and Te, represents one of the main figures to whom the Japanese cult statistic is dedicated. Kindness is a recurring feeling on the faces of these sculptures, but anger and other emotions are also engraved on the sculptures from which we can trace back to the precise historical age of Japan, and to the precise style of that period.
The affirmation of wood carving, for example, coincides with the “Heian” period (8th century, from 784), which involved several substantial changes in techniques and also in the use of materials. Particular types of wood were also made to arrive in Japan on import if considered valid for the purpose of sculpture, such as sandalwood, with which “Eleven-headed Kannon” was made. The statue, from the Nara National Museum, is important because it was one of the first images of esoteric Buddhism and was entirely carved from a single block of sandalwood, partially painted.
All the statues collected in the Roman exhibition come from Japanese temples and shrines and, to create them, were essentially monks – the so-called busshi- who, even when they were not performing priestly functions, while carving they recited mantras, according to Buddhist teaching.
Useful info
“Masterpieces of Japanese Buddhist Sculpture”
From 29 July to 4 September
Stables of the Quirinale via XXIV Maggio 16 Rome