Kuninaka no Muraji Kimimaro

JAPAN, Nara; Nara period

Kuninaka no Muraji Kimimaro was a Buddhist sculptor. The grandson of Kuni no Koppu, an official of the Baekje Kingdom in Korea who immigrated to Japan, he inherited his outstanding sculpture skills. His first position was assisting in the construction of the Shigaraki no Miya Palace of Emperor Shomu (reigned 724–749). The following year, he became the head of the Academy for Sculpture in Konkomyoji Temple. He later held the position of deputy secretary in the office of Todaiji Temple construction and oversaw the building of Kanji Temple, as well as the sculpting of the temple statues. Kuninaka was also involved in the construction of various imperial temples, including Yakushiji Temple in Nara, Ishiyamadera Temple in Shiga, and Amida Jodoin of Hokkeji Temple in Nara.
Kuninaka is perhaps most well-known for his work in supervising the sculpting of the seated Vairocana Buddha in Todaiji Temple as per the emperor’s orders in 743. Construction for the large, gilt bronze statue took nearly 30 years to comlete. It measures 14.85 m high and weighs 500 and is Japan’s largest indoor gilt bronze statue of the Buddha.