A FINE POLYCHROMED WOOD FIGURE OF THE BUDDHIST MONK KUKAI, LATE MUROMACHI TO EARLY MOMOYAMA PERIOD

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A FINE POLYCHROMED WOOD FIGURE OF THE BUDDHIST MONK KUKAI, LATE MUROMACHI TO EARLY MOMOYAMA PERIOD Japan, late 16th to early 17th century, late Muromachi (1336-1573) to Momoyama period (1573-1615) The figure of joined-block construction (yosegi-zukuri), depicting Kukai seated in a meditative pose, his arms bent at the elbows and held in loose fists, both legs folded underneath. The robe draped around the figure is intricately sculpted, tied at one shoulder and falling in elegant folds to the ankle. The monk’s face is sensitively rendered with a calm, contemplative expression, gently pursed lips forming a subtle smile, inlaid eyes beneath arched brows, and delicately incised lines across the forehead. HEIGHT 37 cm Kukai (774–835), posthumously known as Kobo Daishi, was a towering figure in Japanese Buddhism, a monk, scholar, poet, and calligrapher who founded the Shingon school of esoteric Buddhism, a tradition rooted in ritual, mantra, and the direct transmission of teachings from master to disciple. Born into an aristocratic family in Zentsuji on Shikoku Island, he received a classical education in Chinese texts, fostering an early fascination with Buddhist thought. In 804, Kukai traveled to China as part of an official mission, where he studied Tangmi (Chinese Vajrayana Buddhism) under the eminent monk Huiguo, receiving esoteric initiations and developing a unique spiritual framework. Returning to Japan in 806, Kukai introduced groundbreaking texts, esoteric rituals, and mandala teachings, synthesizing Buddhist doctrines into a comprehensive system that gained imperial approval. His establishment of the monastic center on Mount Koya and leadership at significant temples like To-ji solidified the institutionalization of Shingon Buddhism, positioning it as one of Japan's most influential schools. Beyond his religious contributions, Kukai was a prolific cultural figure, advancing Japanese art, literature, and calligraphy, and is credited with the development of the kana syllabary and poetic works such as the iroha. His lasting legacy, exemplified by the Shikoku pilgrimage, continues to inspire devotion and spiritual reflection in Japan to this day. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related lacquered wood figure of a Buddhist monk, dated to the 16th-17th century, 47 cm high, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese and Korean Art, 15 March 2017, New York, lot 6151 (sold for USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 11,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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