danzou　檀像

KEY WORD :　art history / sculptures

A Buddhist statue made from fragrant, fine-grained wood such as white sandalwood *byakudan 白檀, rosewood shitan 紫檀, ebony kokutan 黒檀, or the Japanese bead tree *sendan 栴檀 (melia azedarach). Many danzou were originally brought to Japan from Tang dynasty in China, thus subsequent danzou made in Japan often show characteristics of the Tang style. A *Kannon 観音 statue enshrined in 595 at Hisodera 比蘇寺 in Yoshino 吉野 (Nara) is thought to be the first danzou statue brought from China. The making of sandalwood statues of Buddhist images flourished in Japan from the early Heian period. The hair, eyes, and lips were usually painted but the rest of the statue was left with its natural wood surface to release the wood's fragrance. These statues are usually small in size, and valued for their fine, detailed carving. In Japan sandalwood trees are scarce and were sometimes replaced by hinoki 桧 (Japanese cypress), sakura 桜 (cherry) or kaya 榧 (Japanese nutmeg). Danzou made in Japan from woods other than sandalwood are known as danzouyou choukoku 檀像様彫刻, meaning danzou style statues. Particularly famous 9c examples are the Miroku bosatsuzou 弥勒菩薩像 in Murouji 室生寺, and the Juuichimen Kannonzou 十一面観音像 in Hokkeji 法華寺, Nara.

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