The wooden statue of Fugen Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Fugen) returns to Gansen-ji temple in Kyoto Prefecture after repairs

The “Statue of Fugen Bosatsu in Cabinet,” a government-designated important cultural property of Japan owned by the esoteric Shingon Risshu school temple Gansen-ji in Kizugawa, Kyoto Pref., is currently undergoing conservation treatments under the auspices of the Tsumugu Project. Conservators have finished repairing the wooden statue (main piece) before the end of 2024, and have returned it to the temple’s main hall without the cabinet on Dec. 10. Conservation of the cabinet is still to continue.

The statue of Fugen Bosatsu (Bodhisattva Fugen) of Gansen-ji — made of camphor wood using the ichiboku (single wood)-zukuri carving technique — is about 39 centimeters tall. Experts believe it was worshiped by women of the Heian period wishing to enter nirvana. The statue was likely made during the 11th century. The gentle face and slender torso are typical features of Buddhist statues from the late Heian period.

The white elephant, which carries the statue on its back, is about 27 centimeters in height. Made of Japanese cypress wood along with the pedestal and halo, experts say they were later added to the statue. Hints of vermilion, blue-green and other colors remain on the surfaces of the Fugen Bosatsu and the elephant.

More than a century has passed since the statue was last put under repairs in 1911. In recent years, the pigments on the surface were found flaking, and insect damages were observed as well. Accordingly, conservators took the necessary steps to prevent further peeling, and applied resin to the insect damages.

The zushi cabinet (miniature shrine), where the statue resides, is about 150 centimeters tall and made of Japanese cypress wood. Cloth was glued onto its surface before it was lacquered in black. A mandala depicted on the inner wall of the cabinet suggests that it was made during the Nanbokucho (Northern and Southern courts) period. The cabinet was found deteriorating in the same way as the statue.

On Dec. 10, a temporary base was placed in the main hall to set up the white elephant and the Fugen Bosatsu.

Koyu Uemura, 85, the head priest of Gansen-ji, said: “The surface of the statue seems brighter than it was before the repair. There are many paintings that depict the Fugen Bosatsu, but not many sculptures. I hope a lot of people will come visit to worship the statue.”

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun and other sources)