Wooden seated statue of Chisho Daishi repaired and returned to Nyakuoji temple

The wooden seated statue of Chisho Daishi (814-91), a government-designated important cultural property owned by the Nyakuoji temple in Seika, Kyoto Pref., was returned to the temple in March 2022 after months of repair work. On March 11, the statue was carefully placed back inside the Daishi hall where it belongs.

Chisho Daishi, also known as Enchin, was a high priest of Tendai Buddhism during the early Heian period (8th-12th century). The statue was made during the late Heian period as a replica of the seated statue of Okotsu Daishi* — a designated national treasure — housed at the Mi-i-dera (otherwise known as Onjoji) temple in Otsu, Shiga Pref.

*What is Okotsu Daishi?

     – Okotsu (literally, bones) refers to cremated remains

     – The seated statue of Chisho Daishi housed at Mi-i-dera was called “Okotsu Daishi” because the high priest’s cremated remains were placed inside the statue by his disciples

     – The Mi-i-dera statue was designated by the Japanese government as a national treasure in 1952

(Source: Cultural Heritage Database and more)

The Nyakuoji statue was kept at the Conservation Center for Cultural Properties inside the Kyoto National Museum from May 2021 for repairs by conservators of Bijyutsu-in, a public interest incorporated foundation based in Kyoto.

At Daishi hall, Danjo Koyu, 49, the head priest of Nyakuoji, admired the seated statue for the first time in about 10 months as the masking sheets of paper and cloth came off. Repair experts explained to the priest that steps were taken to stop the peeling of color layers on the statue’s head and that the pedestal was reinforced.

Images taken by infrared camera and other data obtained from research revealed that lines were drawn in black ink in the outer corners of the eye, and that eyebrows, too, were depicted meticulously. What’s more, patterns were found on Chisho Daishi’s robe. It was also learned that large pieces of wood were amply used to make the statue.

Danjo said: “The statue has been cleanly fixed and it seems much brighter. I am inspired to keep protecting it.”

The repair work was financially supported by the Tsumugu Project, a joint effort of Japan’s Cultural Affairs agency, Imperial Household Agency and national daily The Yomiuri Shimbun (headquartered in Tokyo) to help preserve the nation’s artistic treasures.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun and other sources)