National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Seiryōji Temple is located in the Saga area of Kyoto. Its principal image of worship is a w ooden statue of the historical buddha Śākyamuni (National Treasure). Seiryōji’s statue was made in China, supposedly as a copy of an image of Śākyamuni made by King Udanaya. The copy was commissioned by the monk Chōnen (938–1016) when he traveled to China in 985 (Yongxi 2) during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127). Historically, Chōnen’s statue attracted a following as “Śākyamuni of three countries” in reference to the image’s journey across India and China before reaching Japan. This work is one of several copies that were made from the Kamakura period (1185–1333) onward. It clearly follows the distinct iconographic features of Seiryōji’s statue, including: the hair resembling coiled ropes, a monastic robe with the collar drawn up, and the d ensely placed concentric folds in the robe. Yet, unlike the original’s more foreign appearance, this copy strongly reflects the tastes of the Kamakura period, incorporating the era’s distinct directness of form. The head is disproportionately large, and the concentric folds in the robe extend down into the area between both legs. These alterations produce a weaker rendition of the original statue’s unique aura.

An ink inscription on the base of the pedestal reveals the statue was made by the sculptor-priest Genkai (dates unknown), in Bun’ei 10 (1273) using recycled materials from the Main Hall of Furuhashidera of Gangōji Temple. There are no other known statues by Genkai, and the sculpting school he was affiliated with is also unknown. The statue was carved from a single block of Japanese torreya, but the back of the head was made from a separate piece of wood. The inside of the head was hollowed out, crystal eyes were inlaid, and objects were deposited inside.