Onjoji Temple Great Master Hall: Master Enchin
Cypress wood
Onjoji Temple Great Master Hall: Master Enchin
JAPAN, Shiga, Otsu; Heian period
The sculpture is identical in height to the real Tendai patriarch Master Enchin and is supposed to be one of two posthumous statues of him made in 891. The underside of the sculpture is set with a rectangular wooden plate where the master’s relics are thought to be stored. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1952.
The head and the body are carved out of a single piece of cypress wood while the shoulder and knee sections were added later. The original painted colors have faded so the wood grain shows through on the face and neck. Master Enchin is seated in full lotus position, forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra with his hands. The head is domed, the high eyebrows are vertical and the contemplative narrow eyes under them slightly open. His full body with its bull neck is held upright and he wears the traditional brown monastic robe.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture N-Sr, page 771.
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 N-Sr},
pages = 771,
title = {{Onjoji Temple Great Master Hall: Master Enchin}},
volume = 12,
year = {2016}}