Artworks

Niō, Senkōji

Artwork · Enkū · late 17th century · sculpture · Senkōji (Gifu)

Two of the most impressive late works of the wandering priest-sculptor Enkū (1628?–1695), who carved roughly finished images (natabori) for country people: each Niō from a single tall, roughly cut vertical piece of wood, feather-like crowns at the top. They radiate energy and mystical power — awe-inspiring to peasants for whom provincial imitations of classical sculpture had lost meaning. 1 Mason 2005, pp. 309–310, fig. 359. ↩ Literatur Mason 2005: Penelope E. Mason, History of Japanese Art, 2nd, Pearson Education LTD. 2005.