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<<Preface>>
Kei school is a major group of Busshi仏師, scu
lptors specialized in Buddhist sculptures in Japan.
The origin of the school dates back to late Heian period when historic sculptor Jocho定朝 invented his unique technique of Yosegi 寄せ木造りmultiple block.
Unkei 運慶 and Kaikei快慶 are the most prominent sculptors of the school who together made a pair of Kongorikishi, Vajradhara, guardian gods at the Nandaimon-gate,Todaiji temple, Nara prefecture.
Also, The statues of Seshin and Muchaku which were made by Unkei are said to be the paramount masterpieces in the history of the Japanese sculptures.
Vajradhara,法隆寺Horyuji-
Today, Matsumoto Myokei松本明慶 who repaired 100 sculptures in the Guimet Museum, Paris, is a modern day Kei school sculptor who has been making many Buddhist sculptures including 13 great Buddhas in Japan.
This site intends to introduce a part of works in Japan by current day Kei school sculptors.
■■■The World of Busshi仏師, Japanese Buddhist sculptors■■■■
<<<Kei school sculptors>>>
hallmark is graphic realism (p150,Mason, Penelope,History of Japanese Art,1st edition?=BM text)
<<history & their works>>
▶Tori止利(7C?) ~1st Busshi in Japan who were from abroad. 釈迦三尊=623（Horyujitemple法隆寺） influence of NorthernWei,China archaic smile,almond eyes
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▶Jocho定朝(11C?) 阿弥陀仏=1053（平等院鳳凰堂） ~~Yosegi multiple-block寄せ木作り shallow parallel lines,calm facial expressions,
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▶Raijo頼助
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▶Kokei康慶(12C?) Fukukenjaku Kannon不空羂索観音=1189（興福寺）
Vajradhara,法隆寺Horyuji-
▶Unkei運慶(mid12C~1223-4?) 彌勒仏Miroku Butsu,Muchaku無著、Seshin世親=1212（興福寺）、Jizo Bodhisattva夢見地蔵（六波羅蜜寺）
▶Kaikei快慶(~13C?AnAmidabutsu) Amida弥勒菩薩像（Museum of Bostonボストン美術館）、Vajradhara金剛力士像（東大寺） ~~Annamiyo-style
-Unknown 東大寺（priest Shunjobo Chogen重源=13C)
▶Tankei湛慶(1173~1256)-Senju Kannon千手観音=1215(Thirty-Three-Bay Hall三十三間堂)、Zenmyo善妙神立像、Byakko白光神立像（Kozanji高山寺）
-Tankei studio?--Unknown Fujin-God of Wind風神、Raijin-God of Thunder雷神=13C（三十三間堂）
-Kosho康勝 priest Kuya空也上人=early13C（六波羅蜜寺）
-Koben康弁 Tentoki天灯鬼,Ryutoki龍灯鬼=1215（興福寺）
▶Koen康円(1207~?)
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Many masterpieces and Buddhist sculptors experienced tremendous damage by the following government-led Haibutsu kishaku movement around 1870s.
＜＜廃仏毀釈＞＞Haibutsu kishaku Meiji Restoration, late 19C From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buddhist statues in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, destroyed during the haibutsu kishaku
Haibutsu kishaku (廃仏毀釈?) (literally "abolish Buddhism and destroy Shākyamuni") is a term that indicates a current of thought continuous in Japan's history which advocates the expulsion of Buddhism from Japan[1]. More narrowly, it also indicates a particular historic movement and specific historic events based on that ideology which, during the Meiji period, produced the destruction of Buddhist temples, images and texts, and the forced return to secular life of Buddhist monks[1].
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▶Nozaki Sokei (~1965?)野崎宗慶~~<his history being researched>
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