Zen’en

JAPAN; Kamakura period

Zen’en was a Buddhist sculptor from the Zen school of sculpture. In Nara, the Zen school, together with the In and En schools rivaled against each other, while in Kyoto, the Kei school whose representatives were Kokei, Unkei, and Tankei was supported by the imperial palace. Primarily involved in producing sculptures for monk Eizon, the reviver of Saidaiji Temple in Nara, sculptures by Zen’en featured a distinctive style. He strongly emphasized the image being portrayed, and while adhering to traditional methods, his sculptures were realistic and vivid.
His sculptures include Ragaraja, the central figure in the Ragaraja Hall of Saidaiji Temple; Sakyamuni Buddha in Todaiji Temple in Nara; Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in Yakushiji Temple in Nara, Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara, now kept at the Nara National Museum; and Manjusri Bodhisattva, now part of the collection at the Tokyo National Museum.
According to the inscription on the statue, the Sakyamuni Buddha in Todaiji Temple was commissioned by monk Kakucho and sculpted by Zen’en in 1225. Items that were consecrated inside the statue include the Avatamsaka Sutra, Casket Seal Dharani Sutra, a Buddha relic, and sandalwood. Both statues of Ragaraja and Sakyamuni Buddha have been listed as Important Properties of Japan.
The sculpture of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, which was commissioned by monk Toshiyuki from Todaiji Temple, was sculpted by Zen’en when he was 44 years old. The color on the sculpture was applied by the artist Zenkei and it is currently kept at Yakushiji Temple in Nara.