Ennoji Temple: King Chujiang

JAPAN, Kanagawa, Kamakura; Kamakura period

An inscription was discovered inside the statue when it was renovated in 1923. According to this text, the figure was created by the sculptor Koyu in 1251 and presented by a donor in fulfillment of a vow. King Chujiang is one of the Ten Kings of Hell, an official who decides the punishment for wrongdoings of the deceased being during the second week after death. It was listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1972.
The body was assembled from four pieces of cypress wood and painted; the eyes are an inlay of semi-precious stone. The king is ferocious looking and turns his body to the left as he sits loosely cross-legged. The left hand gesticulates upwards while the right hand is closed on the knee. Chujiang’s hat of office is kept in place by a long horizontal pin. He wears a ceremonial robe that has an elaborate collar and is tied at the waist with a sash. The long sleeves and rumpled lower hems are carved in complex detail.