Hirakushi Denchū or Hiragushi Denchū (平櫛田中, Denchū Hirakushi, February 2, 1872 – December 30, 1979) was a Japanese sculptor. He was noted for his traditional Japanese wood sculptures, especially realistically rendered painted wooden portrait sculptures, often incorporating Buddhist themes.[2] He was appointed to the Imperial Art Academy in 1937[3] and in 1944 was appointed an Imperial Household Artist. He was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 1954 and in 1962 was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit.[4]
His carving of a pair of dragon gods can be found in the rear alcoves of Kaminarimon Gate at the entrance to Tokyo's Sensō-ji Temple, installed in 1978 on the 1,350th anniversary of the Kannon's first appearance in Asakusa.[5]
Denchū was born in Shitsuki (now part of Ibara) in Okayama Prefecture, Japan in 1872, under the name Tanaka. In 1882, he was adopted by Hirakushi family of Numakuma in Hiroshima Prefecture and took on the new name. He began his career as an artist in 1893, starting as an apprentice to woodcarver Nakaya Seiko, who carved puppets for bunraku puppet dramas in Osaka. In 1897, he moved to Tokyo and studied under artist Kōun Takamura (sculptor of the 1898 bronze statue of Saigō Takamori which stands in Ueno Park in Tokyo). In 1907, Denchu and three other sculptors established the Nihon Chōkoku Kai (Japan Sculpture Society), and he submitted his 1908 wood sculpture Katsujinsen ("The life-bearing arrow") to its first exhibition, winning the attention of the influential art scholar Okakura Tenshin.[4]
One of Denchu's best-known works is the 238 centimetres (7.81 ft)-tall statue Tenshō (Reincarnation) of 1920. The statue depicts a wrathful figure with a halo of flames – perhaps the Buddhist deity Fudô-myôô – as it vomits out a tiny human figure.[6][7] "Old Mother of Heian" is also known as his work.[8] According to Penelope Mason's History of Japanese Art:
[t]he tiny human is clearly a loathsome wretch at best – possibly so unpalatable that even a demon would not eat him – unworthy of release from the cycle of death and rebirth, the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice. Whatever the exact identification, the image's expression of divine disgust at the human condition is patently clear. Using traditional materials and fusing classic Buddhist themes, Hiragushi has succeeded in creating a powerful and modern statement.[7]
Denchū died on December 30, 1979, and is buried at Tama Cemetery in Fuchū in western Tokyo.[1]
There are two museums dedicated to his work:
The Ibara Municipal Denchu Art Museum (井原市立田中美術館)][9] in Ibara, Okayama Prefecture in western Japan, the place of his birth. The museum also maintains a memorial garden to Denchū in Ibara[10] and his old home in Tokyo's Asakusa district.[11][12]
^ abTazawa, Yutaka. Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Art. Tokyo: Kodansha International in Collaboration with the International Society for Educational Information, 1981. ppg 437-8
^Enbutsu, Sumiko. Old Tokyo: Walks in the City of the Shogun. Tokyo: Tuttle, 2012
^Hirakushi, Denchû, Masayoshi Homma, and Anne Gossot. Personnages De Légende, Figures Historiques Du Japon Ancien: Sculptures Sur Bois Par Hirakushi Denchû 1872-1979. Tokyo: Asahi Shimbun, 1996. Note to Plate 15.
^ abMason, Penelope E, and Donald Dinwiddie. History of Japanese Art. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. ppg. 360-1
^Special Exhibition“From the HIRAGUSHI Denchu Collection"
^. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
^. Archived from the original on 2016-07-16. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
^"Denchu Hirakushi House and Atelier | World Monuments Fund". Wmf.org. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hirakushi Denchū.
Ibara Municipal Denchu Art Museum, English version
Ibara Municipal Denchu Art Museum, Japanese version
Kodaira Hirakushi Denchu Art Museum, English version
April 10, 2024
hirakushi, denchū, this, japanese, name, surname, hirakushi, hiragushi, denchū, 平櫛田中, denchū, hirakushi, february, 1872, december, 1979, japanese, sculptor, noted, traditional, japanese, wood, sculptures, especially, realistically, rendered, painted, wooden, p. In this Japanese name the surname is Hirakushi Hirakushi Denchu or Hiragushi Denchu 平櫛田中 Denchu Hirakushi February 2 1872 December 30 1979 was a Japanese sculptor He was noted for his traditional Japanese wood sculptures especially realistically rendered painted wooden portrait sculptures often incorporating Buddhist themes 2 He was appointed to the Imperial Art Academy in 1937 3 and in 1944 was appointed an Imperial Household Artist He was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 1954 and in 1962 was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit 4 Denchu Hirakushi平櫛田中平櫛田中BornTanaka Denchu 1872 02 23 February 23 1872Shitsuki Okayama JapanDiedDecember 30 1979 1979 12 30 aged 107 Tokyo JapanResting placeTama Cemetery Fuchu Tokyo 1 NationalityJapaneseAwardsPerson of Cultural Merit 1954 Order of Cultural Merit 1962 His carving of a pair of dragon gods can be found in the rear alcoves of Kaminarimon Gate at the entrance to Tokyo s Sensō ji Temple installed in 1978 on the 1 350th anniversary of the Kannon s first appearance in Asakusa 5 Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksBiography editDenchu was born in Shitsuki now part of Ibara in Okayama Prefecture Japan in 1872 under the name Tanaka In 1882 he was adopted by Hirakushi family of Numakuma in Hiroshima Prefecture and took on the new name He began his career as an artist in 1893 starting as an apprentice to woodcarver Nakaya Seiko who carved puppets for bunraku puppet dramas in Osaka In 1897 he moved to Tokyo and studied under artist Kōun Takamura sculptor of the 1898 bronze statue of Saigō Takamori which stands in Ueno Park in Tokyo In 1907 Denchu and three other sculptors established the Nihon Chōkoku Kai Japan Sculpture Society and he submitted his 1908 wood sculpture Katsujinsen The life bearing arrow to its first exhibition winning the attention of the influential art scholar Okakura Tenshin 4 One of Denchu s best known works is the 238 centimetres 7 81 ft tall statue Tenshō Reincarnation of 1920 The statue depicts a wrathful figure with a halo of flames perhaps the Buddhist deity Fudo myoo as it vomits out a tiny human figure 6 7 Old Mother of Heian is also known as his work 8 According to Penelope Mason s History of Japanese Art t he tiny human is clearly a loathsome wretch at best possibly so unpalatable that even a demon would not eat him unworthy of release from the cycle of death and rebirth the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice Whatever the exact identification the image s expression of divine disgust at the human condition is patently clear Using traditional materials and fusing classic Buddhist themes Hiragushi has succeeded in creating a powerful and modern statement 7 Denchu died on December 30 1979 and is buried at Tama Cemetery in Fuchu in western Tokyo 1 There are two museums dedicated to his work The Ibara Municipal Denchu Art Museum 井原市立田中美術館 9 in Ibara Okayama Prefecture in western Japan the place of his birth The museum also maintains a memorial garden to Denchu in Ibara 10 and his old home in Tokyo s Asakusa district 11 12 The Kodaira Hirakushi Denchu Art Museum 小平市平櫛田中彫刻美術館 13 in Kodaira in western Tokyo which preserves his last home and studio See also editYasuo Mizui Tokyo University of the ArtsReferences edit a b 平櫛田中 Plala or jp Retrieved 2017 04 18 Roberts Laurance P A Dictionary of Japanese Artists Painting Sculpture Ceramics Prints Lacquer Tokyo Weatherhill 1976 pg 43 彫刻家 藤井浩祐の世界 PDF Denchu museum jp Retrieved 2017 04 18 a b Tazawa Yutaka Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Art Tokyo Kodansha International in Collaboration with the International Society for Educational Information 1981 ppg 437 8 Enbutsu Sumiko Old Tokyo Walks in the City of the Shogun Tokyo Tuttle 2012 Hirakushi Denchu Masayoshi Homma and Anne Gossot Personnages De Legende Figures Historiques Du Japon Ancien Sculptures Sur Bois Par Hirakushi Denchu 1872 1979 Tokyo Asahi Shimbun 1996 Note to Plate 15 a b Mason Penelope E and Donald Dinwiddie History of Japanese Art Upper Saddle River N J Pearson Prentice Hall 2005 ppg 360 1 Special Exhibition From the HIRAGUSHI Denchu Collection Denchu Art Museum Archived from the original on 2016 03 25 Retrieved 2016 11 18 田中苑 田中美術館 Archived from the original on 2016 07 16 Retrieved 2016 11 18 Denchu Hirakushi House and Atelier World Monuments Fund Wmf org Retrieved 2017 04 18 たいとう歴史都市研究会 Taireki com Retrieved 2017 04 18 小平市平櫛田中彫刻美術館 Denchu museum jp Retrieved 2017 04 18 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hirakushi Denchu Ibara Municipal Denchu Art Museum English version Ibara Municipal Denchu Art Museum Japanese version Kodaira Hirakushi Denchu Art Museum English version Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hirakushi Denchu amp oldid 1213031079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
