Fusaiji Temple: Pillar Sculptures - Guhyapada
Chlorite schist
Fusaiji Temple: Pillar Sculptures - Virupaksa
Fusaiji Temple: Pillar Sculptures
JAPAN, Tokyo; Nanbokucho period
The pillar is composed of six pieces of slate set on a hexagonal stone base. Their faces are carved in low bas-relief with images of the two door guardians and the Four Heavenly Kings. An inscription describing the work as by Do’en and donated by a benefactor in the year 1361 is to the left side of Virupaksa. This composition was listed as a National Treasure in 1953.
Each figure stands astride a rock and is backed by a flame-patterned nimbus. Above them are the traditional seven treasures. The right hand of Guhyapada, the so-called “Hum warrior,” stretches out in a warding gesture, while his left hand is placed on the swiveling waist. Virupaksa hunches with a writing brush in his right hand and a sutra scroll in the other. He wears a crown and a suit of armor decorated with a lion’s head, over which falls a stole.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture A-F, page 357.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture A-F},
pages = 357,
title = {{Fusaiji Temple: Pillar Sculptures}},
volume = 10,
year = {2016}}