Kosho

JAPAN; Heian period

Also known as Kosei and Kojo, Kosho was a Buddhist sculptor. His earliest dated work was the Sakyamuni Buddha statue in Kyoto Kawarain Temple, sculpted in 991. In 1020, together with Jocho, he sculpted the Amitabha Buddha statue in Muryojuin Hall of Hojoji Temple in Kyoto. Later, Kosho assumed a role as a lecturer and was often responsible for the instruction of monks sent from various countries to study sculpture.
Buddha statues sculpted by Kosho have solemn and gentle expressions. The shoulders are flat and smooth, and robes are elegantly carved in low-relief; such statues were the first of their kind in Japan. He also developed the jointed block technique, which quickens workflow by sculpting the various parts of the statues separately before joining them together. His only remaining work is Acala, sculpted in 1006 as the main deity in the Dojuin Hall of Hosshoji Temple in Kyoto. The statue is now part of the collection at Tofukuji Temple and is listed as an Important Cultural Property.