Ungyō

"Guardian Kings" (Kongō Rikishi)

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Titolo dell'opera:

Ungyō

Acquisizione:

Collezione Edoardo Chiossone 1898 Genova - lascito testamentario

Ambito culturale:

ambito giapponese

Object Type:

statue

Epoca:

- XIX

Inventario:

SC-6

Misure:

Unità di misura: cm; Altezza: 35.4

Provenienza (nazione):

Giappone

Tecnica:

legno- assemblaggio, intaglio

Descrizione:

The protective figures of Buddhism Agyō and Ungyō are characterised by their plastic pose, musculature and contracted faces. The statues are placed at the entrance of Buddhist temples to protect worshippers and the temple space, and can reach up to 8 metres in height. These models are made using the Yosegi zukuri technique, "structure of assembled pieces of wood". Sculpture depicting Ungyō, one of the two Guardian Kings (Kongō Rikishi 金剛力士), "bearers of Lightning" (Sanskrit vajrapāṇi). He is represented standing and posing plastically on a rocky base. The artifact was probably born as a template in view of the creation of a large specimen.