Enku

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Yakushi (Enku)
Enkū Museum in Seki

Enkū ( Japanese 円 空 ; born 1632 ; died August 24, 1695 ) was a Japanese monk of the early Edo period who is known for his numerous, simply carved figures of saints.

life and work

Enkū was born in Takenohana (now a district of Hashima ) in the province of Mino . He went to the monastery at an early age and learned the Shugendō ( 修 験 道 ) as a monk of the Tendai direction of Buddhism . But then he did not want to adapt to a single direction of Buddhism, but decided to lead a life as a free believer. He set out on hikes all over Japan, carving figures of saints along the way, which he gave away. In 1695 he returned to his homeland, put the dilapidated Miroku-ji ( 弥勒 寺 ) temple in Seki back in order, but died there that same year.

Enkū is famous for his tireless carving of small holy figures. He used rough chisels and the natural irregularities of his material. The total number is estimated at 120,000 pieces, of which a good 5000 are still preserved today. The largest figure is the two temple guards ( 仁王 , Niō ) with a height of 3.5 m, who stand in the temple gate of Kannon-ji in the Arako district of Nagoya . The smallest figures, so-called "Astenden Buddhas" ( 木 端 仏 , Kotsuba-butsu ), have a height of 2.3 cm.

The figures consist of 40 to 80% round trunks, they are carved in an emphatically raw manner. These figures appear stronger than with the professional wood carvers due to their spontaneity. Figures of this type are still carved and sold in Gifu Prefecture today . A small museum has been built for Enkū in the town of Seki .

Remarks

  1. ↑ The temple endeavors to collect and preserve preserved figures of Enkūs (currently more than 1200).
"Enkū" modern

literature

  • Suzuki, Toshihiko (Ed.): Enku. In: NIhon daihyakka zensho (Denshibukku-han), Shogakukan, 1996.
  • Tazawa Yutaka: Enku. In: Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Art. Kodansha International, 1981. ISBN 0-87011-488-3 .

Web links

Commons : Enku  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Enku
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 円 空 (Japanese name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Japanese priest and figure carver
DATE OF BIRTH 1632
DATE OF DEATH August 24, 1695
Place of death Seki (Gifu)