The Tōdai-ji Hachiman ( Japanese:木造僧形八幡神坐像,

Romaji The romanization of Japanese is the use of Latin script to write the Japanese language. This method of writing is sometimes referred to in Japanese as . Japanese is normally written in a combination of logogram, logographic characters borrowe ...

: ''Mokuzō Sōgyō Hachimanjin Zazō'') is a

syncretic Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thus ...

Shinto , also called Shintoism, is a religion originating in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religions, East Asian religion by Religious studies, scholars of religion, it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan's indigenous religion and as ...

Buddhist sculpture Buddhist art is visual art produced in the context of Buddhism. It includes depictions of Gautama Buddha and other Buddhas and bodhisattvas, notable Buddhist figures both historical and mythical, narrative scenes from their lives, mandalas, ...

of the

kami are the Deity, deities, Divinity, divinities, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena that are venerated in the traditional Shinto religion of Japan. ''Kami'' can be elements of the landscape, forc ...

Hachiman In Japanese religion, ''Yahata'' (八幡神, ancient Shinto pronunciation) formerly in Shinto and later commonly known as Hachiman (八幡神, Japanese Buddhist pronunciation) is the syncretic divinity of archery and war, incorporating elements f ...

carved in 1201 by Buddhist sculptor

Kaikei was a Japanese Busshi (sculptor of Buddha statue) of Kamakura period, known alongside Unkei. Because many busshi of the school have a name including ''kei'' (慶), his school is called ''Kei-ha'' (Kei school). Kaikei being also called , his s ...

. Currently housed in the Hall of Hachiman (Hachiman-den) in

Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Nanto Shichi Daiji, Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Nara, Nara, Japan. The construction of the temple was an attempt to imitate Chinese temples from the much-admir ...

, it is classified as a

National Treasure A national treasure is a structure, artifact, object or cultural work that is officially or popularly recognized as having particular value to the nation, or representing the ideals of the nation. The term has also been applied to individuals or ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

since 19 February 1957 (upgraded from previous status as Important Cultural Property on 2 August 1901), and is the only syncretic piece by him. The sculpture is considered a prominent example of Buddhist sculpture in the early

Kamakura period The is a period of History of Japan, Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the G ...

under the

Kei school The was a Japanese school (style) of Buddhist sculpture which emerged in the early Kamakura period (c. 1200). Based in Nara, it was the dominant school in Buddhist sculpture in Japan into the 14th century, and remained influential until the 19th. ...

, and its creation was extensively documented from chronicles and diaries written during the

13th century The 13th century was the century which lasted from January 1, 1201 (represented by the Roman numerals MCCI) through December 31, 1300 (MCCC) in accordance with the Julian calendar. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan, which stretched ...

Background

Up til the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...

, syncretism was prominent between Shintoism and Buddhism, in the form of

shinbutsu-shūgō ''Shinbutsu-shūgō'' (, "syncretism of kami and buddhas"), also called ''Shinbutsu-konkō'' (, "jumbling up" or "contamination of kami and buddhas"), is the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, Buddhism that was Japan's main organized rel ...

, in which the history of Hachiman worship was closely involved with the construction of Tōdai-ji in 749. With sponsorship from

Usa Jingū , also known as , is a Shinto shrine in the city of Usa in Ōita Prefecture in Japan. Emperor Ojin, who was deified as Hachiman-jin (the tutelary god of warriors), is said to be enshrined in all the sites dedicated to him; and the first and ear ...

, Hachiman became a ''chinjujin,'' the guardian kami of the temple, and throughout the

Heian Period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

, images of Sōgyō Hachiman (in monk form) have been present in Japanese temples. In 1180, following the

Siege of Nara The alternatively known as the Nanto Arson Campaign in Japan is an event which took place on January 15th 1181 (December 28th 1180 in the Jishō calendar), following Prince Mochihito and Minamoto no Yorimasa's defeat and subsequent death to the ...

, when Tōdai-ji and

Kōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school. It is part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a World Heritage Site. H ...

, were set on fire, Tōdai-ji saw extensive reconstruction and renovation under its abbot

Chōgen was a after '' Manju'' and before ''Chōryaku.'' This period spanned the years from July 1028 through April 1037. The reigning emperors were and . Change of era * 1028 : The new era name ''Chōgen'' was created to mark and event or series of ...

(1121-1206), as he sought to arrange the campus in the style of

Southern Song The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, ending ...

architecture in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. The sculpture's origins as well as the inception of the sculpture was chronicled in the ''Tōdai-ji Hachiman Genki,'' written in 1237. As the reconstruction of the temple proceeded, Hachiman, who had seen popular worship and attention as the guardian kami of ''Tōdai-ji,'' had his hall erected with much support by Chōgen and the monks in 1194. The chronicle also described disputes and repeated requests by the monks towards the

Kamakura shogunate The was the feudal military government of Japan during the Kamakura period from 1185 to 1333. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"''Kamakura-jidai''"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 459. The Kamakura shogunate was established by Minamoto no Yori ...

for approval of an image of Hachiman to decorate the hall. There was a push towards the acquisition of a painting of Hachiman, attributed to

Kūkai , born posthumously called , was a Japanese Buddhist monk, calligrapher, and poet who founded the Vajrayana, esoteric Shingon Buddhism, Shingon school of Buddhism. He travelled to China, where he studied Tangmi (Chinese Vajrayana Buddhism) und ...

, in the collection of

Emperor Toba was the 74th Emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 鳥羽天皇 (74)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession. Toba's reign spanned the years from 1107 through 1123. Genealogy Before his ascension to the Ch ...

, formerly owned by

Jingo-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto. It stands on Mount Takao to the northwest of the center of the city. The temple adheres to Shingon Buddhism. Its principal image is a statue of Bhaisajyaguru (''Yakushi Nyorai''), the Buddha of Healing or "Medi ...

, augmented a claimed vision by the Tōdai-ji monks that they witnessed a homeless red-robed Hachiman at the Great South Gate (Nandaimon) of the temple. It was seen that the ownership of the image is considered a preciously kept secret, given the aggressiveness of the attempted acquisition by the monastery, as well as the fact that an image from

Ninna-ji is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. Located in western Kyoto, Japan, it was first founded in AD 888 by Emperor Uda, and was later reconstructed in the 17th century. It is part of the Historic Monuments of ...

, was secretly copied from the Jingo-ji painting. In the end, the attempted ownership of the painting failed, so Tōdai-ji opted for the carving of a new image by Kaikei.

The Sculpture

Kaikei's sculpture differs from an older

Heian period The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...

image that is currently held by

Yakushi-ji is one of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan, and was once one of the Seven Great Temples of Nanto, located in Nara. The temple is the headquarters of the Hossō school of Japanese Buddhism. Yakushi-ji is one of the ...

(also classified as a National Treasure). Whereas the Yakushi-ji Hachiman is a triad image, accompanied by a sculpture of Nakatsuhime and

Empress Jingū was a Legend, legendary Japanese empress who ruled as a regent following her Emperor Chūai, husband's death in 200 AD. Both the and the (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events that took place during Jingū's alleged lifetime. Legen ...

(as Hachiman is the deification of

Emperor Ōjin , also known as (alternatively spelled ) or , was the 15th (possibly legendary) Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Both the ''Kojiki'', and the ''Nihon Shoki'' (collectively known as the ''Kiki'') record events t ...

), Kaikei's sculpture is a solitary image of Hachiman as a monk. Kaikei's Hachiman relies on realism and

polychromy Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery, or sculpture in multiple colors. When looking at artworks and ...

, the deity is seen legs crossed, left hand on the lap, right hand held at chest level, staff in hand. He wears a grey undergarment, ochre robe, and is painted with a ''tōyama'' pattern, wisps of reds (shades of

lacquer Lacquer is a type of hard and usually shiny coating or finish applied to materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity. Asian lacquerware, which may be c ...

and

cinnabar Cinnabar (; ), or cinnabarite (), also known as ''mercurblende'' is the bright scarlet to brick-red form of Mercury sulfide, mercury(II) sulfide (HgS). It is the most common source ore for refining mercury (element), elemental mercury and is t ...

), greens and blues. Unlike the

Tō-ji , also known as is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Minami-ku, Kyoto, Minami-ku ward of Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 796, Tō-ji Temple was one of the only three Buddhist temples allowed in the city at the time it became the capital of Japan. As s ...

Hachiman, whose chest is exposed, Kaikei was focused on making his Hachiman as realistic as possible, with the resemblance to an actual monk. Reduced emphasis on bone structure, wrinkles are to emphasize the statue's status as a god, though the polychromy is utilized to accentuate on its human features. The statue sits on a lotus pedestal and is framed with a gold halo, to designate his divinity. Typical to that of

craftmanship, Hachiman was carved with the ''yosegi zukuri'' technique, made of multiple interlocking blocks which assembles the front portion and the back portion as such, the Hachiman has broad shoulders and flattened chest due to the assembly method. The names of the sculpture's donors are etched in a smooth surface within the cavity of the carving:

Imperial House of Japan The is the reigning dynasty of Japan, consisting of those members of the extended family of the reigning emperor of Japan who undertake official and public duties. Under the present constitution of Japan, the emperor is "the symbol of the State ...
:
Emperor Tsuchimikado was the 83rd emperor of Japan,Imperial Household Agency (''Kunaichō'') 土御門天皇 (83)/ref> according to the traditional order of succession.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' pp. 86–87. Tsuchimikado's reig ...
,
Emperor Go-Toba was the 82nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 1183 through 1198. This 12th-century sovereign was named after Emperor Toba, and ''go-'' (後), translates literally as "later"; ...
, Prince Shūkaku,
Emperor Go-Shirakawa was the 77th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His de jure reign spanned the years from 1155 through 1158, though arguably he effectively maintained imperial power for almost thirty-seven years through the ''in ...
, Shichijō Nyoin, Hachijō Nyoin Priesthood:
Myōe (February 21, 1173 – February 11, 1232) was a Japanese bhikkhu, Buddhist monk active during the Kamakura period who also went by the name Kōben (, Chinese: 高辨, Gāo Biàn). He was a contemporary of Jōkei (monk), Jōkei and Hōnen. Bio ...
, Myōhen, Ebin, (Chōgen's name does not appear in the sculpture despite being involved in its inception) In addition: laymen of the
Taira clan The was one of the four most important Japanese clans, clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period, Heian period of History of Japan, Japanese history – the others being the Minamoto clan, Minamoto, the Fujiwara clan, Fuji ...
,
Minamoto clan was a Aristocracy (class), noble surname bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the Imperial House of Japan, imperial family who were excluded from the List of emperors of Japan, line of succession and demoted into the ranks of Nobili ...
, Fujiwara clans are named alongside 28 sculptors (''kobusshi''), members of workshops by Kōkei, Myoēn, and Inson are identified with Kaikei's signature in place.

As such, the sculpture is a testament to the intimacy with the clergy, the regency and the Imperial family during the

Display

Held in the Hachiman-den within the Kanjin-sho of Tōdai-ji, every year on October, after religious services, the sculpture is displayed to the public alongside that of the Five Kalpas of Reflection by the Buddha Amida, and a sculpture of the priest Kōkei, both of which are designated Important Cultural Properties.

References

{{reflist National Treasures of Japan Japanese sculpture 1200s in art Kei school Buddhist sculpture Wooden sculptures in Japan

Background

The Sculpture

Display

See also

References