快慶展 EXHIBITION OF KAIKEI STATURES

快慶展

 

 重源上人坐像

 

 ６月１日、奈良国立博物館で開催されている「快慶展」を見てきた。「阿吽」という短編小説をさらに推敲するためである。特に印象に残ったのは：

１．重源上人坐像
昨年、東大寺俊乗坊を訪ねたが、中に安置されている重源上人坐像は見ることができなかった。今回、目の前でみることができた。８５歳で没する直前に運慶によって彫られたものと思われる。窪んだ眼窩、猫背の背中、右目が左目よりやや大きい。

２．「運慶願経」
運慶が書写した法華経の巻物が展示してあった。「阿吽」ではこの巻物に触れていないので、もう一度運慶と法華経の関係、さらに快慶などの結縁についても調べ直さなければならない。

３．地蔵菩薩立像
御顔を見ていると心が落ち着く。快慶は四天王や南大門阿吽像の荒々しい像も安らぎを与える仏像も実に巧みに彫っている。９月開催の「運慶展」で運慶の彫刻と比べてみたい。

もう一度「阿吽」は大々的にやり直さなくてはならないと思った。

　　地蔵菩薩立像
 

　EXHIBITION OF KAIKEI STATUES

　　I went to Nara to see Kaikei Exhibition held at the Nara National Museum on June 1, because I wanted to improve my short story, which depicts how Unkei and Kaikei, two 13th century Buddhist statue sculptors, carved Guardians of Buddha in Todaiji Temple. More than 80 items including statues and scrolls were exhibited. Here are some of the most impressive ones:

 

1. Seated Statue of Priest Chogen

　　I visited Shunjyo-bo Temple, where the Chogen statue was preserved, but since it was closed, I failed to see the statue. This time I saw it before my nose. The statue is said to have been carved by Unkei immediately before Chogen's death at the age of 85. Look at his sunken eye-sockets and round shoulders. His right eye is slightly larger than the left one.

2. Unkei Gankyo
　　“Unkei Gangyo” are the eight volumes of Hokke-kyo Sutra transcribed under the direction of Unkei. I did not refer to the sutra in my short story. So, I will have to study about how Unkei devoted to Buddhism and how other Buddhist sculptors including Kaikei were connected with the sutra.

3. Standing Statue of Jizo Bosatsu Buddhist
　　Just looking at this statue comforts you. Besides carving soothing statues, Kaikei carved outraged statues such as a Shiten-no Guardian and Nio-Guardian in Todaiji Temple.

　　I would like to go to Tokyo to see Unkei Exhibition to be held in Tokyo this Septmeber.