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Exhibition Name
Heavenly Maiden Born from Shiva’s Hair
- Nationality/Period
Modern and Contemporary Period
- Materials
Wood
- Author
Takamura Koun(高村光雲, 1852-1934)
- Category
Culture / Art - Sculpture - Figure sculpture
- Dimensions
H. 27.1cm
- Accession Number
Geundae 128
- Location
Japan
The sculptor is Takamura Koun, a leading figure in Japanese modern sculpture. Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Shinto was announced as the official religion of Japan, and Buddhism was effectively banned, deeply threatening the Japanese tradition of wooden sculpture. However, Takamura Koun introduced realism to the tradition, thereby reviving it and initiating Japanese modern wooden sculpture. She is holding a plate of flowers in her left hand, with her right hand down at her side; this pose accords with the iconography of teaching from Buddhist scriptures. Such perfect representations of Buddhist iconography brought Takamura great acclaim. His work and his accomplishments are virtually unprecedented in Japan.
