115 - A MASSIVE (117 CM) POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURE OF TENTOKI, AFTER THE NATIONAL TREASURE AT KOFUKUJI, EDO PERIOD

A MASSIVE (117 CM) POLYCHROME WOOD FIGURE OF TENTOKI, AFTER THE NATIONAL TREASURE AT KOFUKUJI, EDO PERIOD Japan, Edo period (1615-1868) Powerfully carved from a single block of wood in the ichiboku-zukuri technique, with the rocky base and lantern separately carved, the muscular demon-like figure standing in a dramatic, twisting pose atop an irregular rocky outcrop. His legs are firmly planted, the powerful torso sharply turned, with exceptionally well-defined musculature, bulging sinews, and prominent veins coursing along his arms and legs. A billowing scarf is draped across his shoulders and secured at the chest, while a tattered loincloth is wrapped around his waist. His left arm is raised to support a separately carved lantern with paneled sides and a broad overhanging roof surmounted by a bud-shaped finial, while his right arm extends downward, the hand tightly clenched. The ferocious face is finely detailed with bulging eyes beneath deeply furrowed brows, a prominent third eye, broad nose, and gaping mouth revealing sharp fangs, framed by unruly hair and short horns. The surface retains extensive traces of polychrome decoration. HEIGHT 117 cm (overall) Condition: Good condition with expected age-related wear, fine age cracks, old repairs to the right arm and left hand, a minor loss to the right fang, light flaking, and remnants of polychrome decoration. The present monumental figure is closely modeled after the celebrated Kamakura-period sculpture of Tentoki at Kofukuji Temple in Nara, one of a pair of extraordinary demon figures designated National Treasures of Japan. Originally installed in the temple's Western Golden Hall, Tentoki and his companion Ryutoki represent formerly malevolent demons transformed into servants of the Buddhist faith, bearing lanterns to illuminate the sacred images. Their vigorous modeling, animated expressions, and remarkable sense of movement rank them among the most distinctive achievements of the Kei school of Buddhist sculpture. Ryutoki is securely attributed to Koben, the third son of the celebrated sculptor Unkei, through an inscription dating the work to 1215, while Tentoki is generally associated with the same sculptural tradition. The reproduction of celebrated Buddhist masterpieces was an established practice in Japan, reflecting both reverence for the original works and the transmission of traditional sculptural techniques. Particularly notable is the example of Morikawa Toen (1820-1894), who produced painted wooden reproductions of the Kofukuji demons during the Meiji period, now preserved in the Tokyo National Museum. The present figure belongs to this tradition of recreating revered sculptural prototypes, retaining the powerful stance, expressive physiognomy, and dramatic lantern-bearing composition of the Kamakura original, while translating its remarkable sculptural vitality into an imposing, larger-scale work. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related polychrome wood figure of Tentoki, copied after the National Treasure at Kofukuji by Morikawa Toen (1820-1894) in 1881, in the Tokyo National Museum, collection reference number C-18.