Kiyotakidera Temple: Acala Triad
Wood
Kiyotakidera Temple: Acala Triad
JAPAN, Tochigi, Nikko; Edo period
These three statues were sculpted during the 17th century, and are believed to be created by the monk Enku during his stay in the Kanto region.
The attendants Cetaka and Kinkara accompany Acala. Their broadly smiling faces mute the normally fierce appearance of these primitive figures. Acala is carved from a piece of wood split from a tree, its rough natural upper contour creatively standing in for a flaming aureole. The sword he carries is carefully crafted in contrast to the roughly hacked detail of the rest of the figure. The two attendants are treated in similar style; one styled like a monk who holds up a reassuring hand, while the other appears to bow with the weapon grounded to one side of the base.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 535.
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 G-M},
pages = 535,
title = {{Kiyotakidera Temple: Acala Triad}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}