Enkū (円空) (1632–1695) was a Japanese Buddhist monk, poet and sculptor during the early Edo period. He was born in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture) and is famous for carving some 120,000 wooden statues of the Buddha and other Buddhist icons, many of which were given in payment for lodging on his pilgrimages to temples throughout Japan.
The most credible source has Enkū born in 1632 on the banks of the Kisogawa in central Japan in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture). His family was poor and, under the tightly controlled regime of the Tokugawa shōguns, there was little prospect of any kind of advancement. Social status, occupation, even religious affiliation, were rigidly prescribed. Travel was restricted. Tradition recounts that his mother was washed away and drowned in a river flood, probably when he was seven years old.
Soon after this, Enkū left home and became a Buddhist monk. The temple Enkū entered belonged to the Tendai Jimonshu, one of the older branches of Buddhism in Japan. Tendai teaching accepts many ways to realise enlightenment, including the way of the artist – the way of making and distributing Buddha statues. The Jimonshu, or Jimon branch was particularly connected with the yamabushi – literally "those who sleep in the mountains."
Yamabushi practice
In common with many yamabushi, Enkū was a healer and a practitioner of kampo, herbal medicine. In fact, we still possess some of his personal notes on medicinal plants. As he travelled in remote regions, his skills as a doctor would have been eagerly received among the poorer people.
Carvings
During his travels, he vowed to carve some 120,000 wooden statues. No two were alike. Many of the statues were crudely carved from tree stumps or scrap wood with a few strokes of a hatchet. Some were given to comfort those who had lost family members, others to guide the dying on their journeys to the next life. Thousands of these wooden statues remain today all over Japan, especially in Hida and Gifu regions. Enkū is probably now regarded as one of the most famous Japanese sculptors.
What is less well known is that he was also a prolific poet.
Poetry
There are extant over 1,500 of Enku's Japanese poems in two collections along with a few more written on the back of statues. One collection of 100 poems is called, "Kesa Niji Hyaku Shu" (“One Hundred Poems Containing the Two Characters Kesa). The other which is much larger is called "Otoko Warashi Uta (“Male Child Songs”). Mostly he wrote waka (also known as “tanka”), an ancient five-line verse form with the syllables running usually, 5-7-5-7-7. Themes include his mountain practice, responses to nature and the seasons, romantic pieces and expressions of joy and bliss (he nicknamed himself Kanki Shamon Enku, "Bliss-monk Enku"). In 2015, a book called "In Heaven's River: Poems and Carvings of Mountain-Monk Enku" was published by Zenways Press in the UK with Japanese and English translations of 100 of Enkū's poems collected together by Enkū’s thirtieth-generation successor, Enju-sensei, together with photos of many of his carvings.
Alphen, Jan Van [et al.] Enku 1632-1695. Timeless Images from 17th Century Japan. Antwerpen, Etnografisch Museum., 1999, 192pp., 9 essays, very richly illustrated
Skinner, Julian Daizan and Hayashi, Sumiko: In Heaven's River: Poems and Carvings of Mountain-Monk Enku. Zenways Press, 2015, poems and photos of Enku
Tanahashi, Kazuaki. Enku: Sculptor of a Hundred Buddhas. Shambhala Publications, 1991. 122pp.
External links
Enkū
, Konan City
Enku Life to Live, Documentary on the life of Enku
enkū, 円空, 1632, 1695, japanese, buddhist, monk, poet, sculptor, during, early, period, born, mino, province, present, gifu, prefecture, famous, carving, some, wooden, statues, buddha, other, buddhist, icons, many, which, were, given, payment, lodging, pilgrima. Enku 円空 1632 1695 was a Japanese Buddhist monk poet and sculptor during the early Edo period He was born in Mino Province present day Gifu Prefecture and is famous for carving some 120 000 wooden statues of the Buddha and other Buddhist icons many of which were given in payment for lodging on his pilgrimages to temples throughout Japan EnkuOne of Enku s many carvingsPersonalBorn1632Mino Province JapanDied1695Miroku ji temple Seki Gifu JapanReligionBuddhismSchoolTendai JimonshuSenior postingSuccessorEncho Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Childhood 1 2 Yamabushi practice 2 Carvings 3 Poetry 4 See also 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography EditChildhood Edit The most credible source has Enku born in 1632 on the banks of the Kisogawa in central Japan in Mino Province present day Gifu Prefecture His family was poor and under the tightly controlled regime of the Tokugawa shōguns there was little prospect of any kind of advancement Social status occupation even religious affiliation were rigidly prescribed Travel was restricted Tradition recounts that his mother was washed away and drowned in a river flood probably when he was seven years old Soon after this Enku left home and became a Buddhist monk The temple Enku entered belonged to the Tendai Jimonshu one of the older branches of Buddhism in Japan Tendai teaching accepts many ways to realise enlightenment including the way of the artist the way of making and distributing Buddha statues The Jimonshu or Jimon branch was particularly connected with the yamabushi literally those who sleep in the mountains Yamabushi practice Edit In common with many yamabushi Enku was a healer and a practitioner of kampo herbal medicine In fact we still possess some of his personal notes on medicinal plants As he travelled in remote regions his skills as a doctor would have been eagerly received among the poorer people Carvings EditDuring his travels he vowed to carve some 120 000 wooden statues No two were alike Many of the statues were crudely carved from tree stumps or scrap wood with a few strokes of a hatchet Some were given to comfort those who had lost family members others to guide the dying on their journeys to the next life Thousands of these wooden statues remain today all over Japan especially in Hida and Gifu regions Enku is probably now regarded as one of the most famous Japanese sculptors What is less well known is that he was also a prolific poet Poetry EditThere are extant over 1 500 of Enku s Japanese poems in two collections along with a few more written on the back of statues One collection of 100 poems is called Kesa Niji Hyaku Shu One Hundred Poems Containing the Two Characters Kesa The other which is much larger is called Otoko Warashi Uta Male Child Songs Mostly he wrote waka also known as tanka an ancient five line verse form with the syllables running usually 5 7 5 7 7 Themes include his mountain practice responses to nature and the seasons romantic pieces and expressions of joy and bliss he nicknamed himself Kanki Shamon Enku Bliss monk Enku In 2015 a book called In Heaven s River Poems and Carvings of Mountain Monk Enku was published by Zenways Press in the UK with Japanese and English translations of 100 of Enku s poems collected together by Enku s thirtieth generation successor Enju sensei together with photos of many of his carvings See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enku Enku MuseumFurther reading EditAlphen Jan Van et al Enku 1632 1695 Timeless Images from 17th Century Japan Antwerpen Etnografisch Museum 1999 192pp 9 essays very richly illustrated Skinner Julian Daizan and Hayashi Sumiko In Heaven s River Poems and Carvings of Mountain Monk Enku Zenways Press 2015 poems and photos of Enku Tanahashi Kazuaki Enku Sculptor of a Hundred Buddhas Shambhala Publications 1991 122pp External links EditEnku Enku Buddha Konan City Enku Life to Live Documentary on the life of Enku 1 the Tendai Jimonshu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Enku amp oldid 1108562004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
