The Tsumugu Project — operated by Japan’s Cultural Affairs Agency, Imperial Household Agency and national daily newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun — will provide financial support to help repair nine assets in fiscal 2024 (year starting on Apr. 1), including the seated statue of Miroku-butsu (Maitreya) of Kofuku-ji temple in Nara, a designated national treasure of Japan.
Seated statue of Miroku-butsu (Maitreya) by Unkei Kofuku-ji temple, Nara
The Miroku-butsu — a yosegi-zukuri (joint-block construction) masterpiece of Kamakura-period sculptor Unkei made of Japanese judas wood — is the principal image of Kofuku-ji’s Northern Round Hall. Conservators will spend about a year to repair the back side of the seated statue where peeling of gold foil is severe.
The eight other assets to be repaired under the project are:
National treasure: Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era (Taiping Yulan) — Tofuku-ji temple, Kyoto
National treasure: Prince Shotoku and the High Priests of Tendai Buddhism — Ichijo-ji temple, Hyogo Pref.
Important cultural property: Shaka’s Eight-phase Nirvana — Tsurugi-jinja shrine, Fukui Pref.
Important cultural property: Prince Shotoku Lecturing on the Srimaladevi Sutra — Seirai-ji temple, Mie Pref.
Important cultural property: Sutra in Gold Letters on Deep Blue Paper (Excavated from the sutra mound at Kinpusen) — Kinpusen-ji temple, Nara Pref.
Important cultural property: Portraits of Mansai, Giken, Gigyo, Gien, Kakujo — Daigo-ji temple, Kyoto
Important cultural property: Statue of Fugen Bosatsu in Cabinet — Gansen-ji temple, Kyoto Pref.
Important cultural property: Landscape by Ito Jakuchu — Saifuku-ji temple, Osaka Pref.
