Unganji Temple
Main Image Kongo Rikishi (Nio) Category Tenbu (Deva)
Impression TagsPowerDignityTense Presence
DescriptionA pair of Kongo Rikishi statues enshrined at the temple gate of Unganji Temple. They were created by Takahashi Ichizo, also known as Enmanzo, a master craftsman sometimes called the “Hidari Jingoro of Tohoku” and known as the creator of the Akita folk song “Donpan-bushi.” According to tradition, a large tree in the temple grounds died after being struck by lightning, and the head priest commissioned the statues so the wood would not go to waste. The two figures were carved from the upper and lower portions of the same tree. Their powerful, dynamic forms guard the gate of Unganji, which is said to be the oldest temple in Kakunodate. The temple grounds also preserve a collection of Shiraiwa-yaki Thousand Buddha figures designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Akita Prefecture.
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