The Kei school (慶派, Kei-ha) was a Japanese school (style) of Buddhistsculpture which emerged in the early Kamakura period (c. 1200). Based in Nara, it was the dominant school in Buddhist sculpture in Japan into the 14th century, and remained influential until the 19th. Art historian Joan Stanley Baker cites the Kei school's early works as the last highpoint in the history of Japanese sculpture.[1]
The Kei school developed out of that led by the busshi (Buddhist sculptor) Jōchō's successor, Kakujō and Kakujō's son Raijō, the leading sculptors of the preceding generations. These artists are sometimes said to have founded the Kei school;[2] however, the school would not come into its own, and become associated with the name "Kei" until Raijō was succeeded by Kōkei and Unkei around the year 1200. Unkei's six sons and their descendants in turn later succeeded to leadership of the school.[2]
Much of the cities of Nara and Kyoto were destroyed in the Genpei War of 1180-1185. The Kei school was granted the opportunity to restore Nara's greatest temples, the Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji, replacing their Buddhist sculptures. The Kei school's strong and traditional style earned it the favor of the Kamakura shogunate; the school also lacked the Imperial political ties that the In school and En school had, and was thus selected by the shogunate for this honor, catapulting the school to great success and influence.[2]
The Tōdai-ji restoration project lasted several generations, from roughly 1180 to 1212,[3] and drew extensively on Tenpyō style in Nara period, introducing new stylistic elements while remaining true to tradition. New human iconographic forms emerged, with greater simplicity and realism, and more subdued colors.[1] For the first time, crystals with dark centers were used for the eyes of statues; while the Kei school style recalls elements of Nara period sculpture, Joan Stanley Baker describes the Kei school works as less idealized, generic, and impersonal than Nara works. The sculptors of the Kei school focused on the distinctive identity of each statue's subject, and on physical details.[1]
A late 12th century sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai, attributed to Unkei, sold at auction at Christie's on March 18, 2008 for US$14.37 million, establishing a new record for Japanese art prices at auction, as well as for Asian art sold in New York.[4][5]
Paine, Robert Treat and Alexander Soper. The Art and Architecture of Japan. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1981 (third ed.). pp 110–115.
^ abcBaker, Joan Stanley. Japanese Art. London: Thames and Hudson, 1984. p109.
^ abc"Keiha 慶派." Japanese Architecture and Art Users System (JAANUS). 2001. Accessed 17 November 2008.
^Munsterberg, Huge. The Arts of Japan: An Illustrated History. Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1957. p98.
^"Wooden Buddha sculpture sold for $14.3 million." Reuters. 18 March 2008. Accessed 18 November 2008.
^"A Highly Important Wood Sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana)." Christie's. Accessed 18 November 2008.
January 28, 2023
school, 慶派, japanese, school, style, buddhist, sculpture, which, emerged, early, kamakura, period, 1200, based, nara, dominant, school, buddhist, sculpture, japan, into, 14th, century, remained, influential, until, 19th, historian, joan, stanley, baker, cites,. The Kei school 慶派 Kei ha was a Japanese school style of Buddhist sculpture which emerged in the early Kamakura period c 1200 Based in Nara it was the dominant school in Buddhist sculpture in Japan into the 14th century and remained influential until the 19th Art historian Joan Stanley Baker cites the Kei school s early works as the last highpoint in the history of Japanese sculpture 1 Muchaku by UnkeiKōfuku ji 1212 National Treasure Contents 1 Background and history 2 Gallery 3 Selected artists of note 4 ReferencesBackground and history Edit Senju Kannon by Tankei Sanjusangen dō 1254 National Treasure The Kei school developed out of that led by the busshi Buddhist sculptor Jōchō s successor Kakujō and Kakujō s son Raijō the leading sculptors of the preceding generations These artists are sometimes said to have founded the Kei school 2 however the school would not come into its own and become associated with the name Kei until Raijō was succeeded by Kōkei and Unkei around the year 1200 Unkei s six sons and their descendants in turn later succeeded to leadership of the school 2 Much of the cities of Nara and Kyoto were destroyed in the Genpei War of 1180 1185 The Kei school was granted the opportunity to restore Nara s greatest temples the Tōdai ji and Kōfuku ji replacing their Buddhist sculptures The Kei school s strong and traditional style earned it the favor of the Kamakura shogunate the school also lacked the Imperial political ties that the In school and En school had and was thus selected by the shogunate for this honor catapulting the school to great success and influence 2 The Tōdai ji restoration project lasted several generations from roughly 1180 to 1212 3 and drew extensively on Tenpyō style in Nara period introducing new stylistic elements while remaining true to tradition New human iconographic forms emerged with greater simplicity and realism and more subdued colors 1 For the first time crystals with dark centers were used for the eyes of statues while the Kei school style recalls elements of Nara period sculpture Joan Stanley Baker describes the Kei school works as less idealized generic and impersonal than Nara works The sculptors of the Kei school focused on the distinctive identity of each statue s subject and on physical details 1 A late 12th century sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai attributed to Unkei sold at auction at Christie s on March 18 2008 for US 14 37 million establishing a new record for Japanese art prices at auction as well as for Asian art sold in New York 4 5 Gallery Edit Dainichi Nyorai by Unkei 1176 National Treasure Enjō ji Six Patriarchs of the Hossō Gyōga by Kōkei 1189 Kōfuku ji National Treasure Dainichi Nyorai attributed to Unkei set a record of auction of Japanese art works at Christie s 1193 Important Cultural Property Three Attendants of Fudō Myōō by Unkei Kongōbu ji 1197 National Treasure Jizō Bosatsu by Unkei Rokuharamitsu ji Important Cultural Property Amitabha by Kaikei Jōdo ji 1195 1197 National Treasure Ryutōki by Koben Kōfuku ji 1215 National Treasure Portrait of monk Kuya by Koshō Important Cultural Property Kongo Rikishi in Kōfuku ji 1189 National Treasure Chōgen enshrined in the Shunjodo at Tōdai ji 1206 National Treasure Attributed to Unkei Twelve Heavenly Generals Kōfuku ji 1207 National Treasure Twelve Heavenly Generals attributed to Unkei Jōruri ji 1212 Important Cultural Property Selected artists of note EditKōkei Unkei Kaikei TankeiReferences EditPaine Robert Treat and Alexander Soper The Art and Architecture of Japan New Haven Yale University Press 1981 third ed pp 110 115 a b c Baker Joan Stanley Japanese Art London Thames and Hudson 1984 p109 a b c Keiha 慶派 Japanese Architecture and Art Users System JAANUS 2001 Accessed 17 November 2008 Munsterberg Huge The Arts of Japan An Illustrated History Tokyo Charles E Tuttle Company 1957 p98 Wooden Buddha sculpture sold for 14 3 million Reuters 18 March 2008 Accessed 18 November 2008 A Highly Important Wood Sculpture of Dainichi Nyorai Mahavairocana Christie s Accessed 18 November 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kei school amp oldid 1013441713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
