AN IMPORTANT AND VERY LARGE CYPRESS WOOD STATUE OF A HEAVENLY GENERAL, HEIAN PERIOD, THE DATING CONFIRMED BY A C14 TEST
Lot 144 - JPN0625

Japan, late 8^th-10^th century, first half of the Heian period (794-1185)

Scientific Analysis Report: The result of a radiocarbon dating test (C14) conducted by Re. S. Artes, C 145503A-2, dated 4 September 2024, based on one sample taken from the back of the figure, is consistent with the dating of this lot. A copy of the detailed scientific report accompanies this lot.

Of single-block (ichibokuzukuri) construction, standing in a dynamic stance, the muscular legs well-defined and with bangles carved around the ankles. The guardian deity wears a superbly detailed loincloth carved in relief, the upper body is bare showing an immensely powerful chest, rib cage, and slightly distended stomach carved with a beast mask. The face is expressively and powerfully carved with large bulging eyes, furrowed brows, and full lips pressed tightly together, while the hair is wild and flaming.

HEIGHT 164 cm (excl. mounting), 168 cm (incl. mounting)

Condition: Good condition, commensurate to age. Several age cracks, splits, losses, all as expected from a wood figure of over 1,000 years of age.
Provenance: From a private collection in France.

The conception of the sculpture, carved in one block in the ichiboku-zukuri technique, is consistent with an earlier Heian period dating; wood sculptures of the later Heian and succeeding Kamakura period were usually carved in yosegi- and warihagi-zukuri.

The heavenly generals (Juni Shinsho) are the protective deities of Bhaisajyaguru, the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahayana Buddhism. The Heavenly Generals, always shown with a fierce look and wearing armor, were often the subject of large wood sculptures during the Heian and Kamakura periods. In fact, five different sets of Heavenly Generals have been designated as National Treasures in Japan. In the group of figures at the Seikado Bunko and Tokyo National Museums, the uniqueness of each one of the figures has been praised, with varied postures, hairstyles, hand-held symbols and armor shapes.

Museum comparison:
Compare a related wood statue of a Heavenly King, dated 12^th century, Heian period, 86 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1975.268.165. Compare a closely related wood statue of a Tenbu, late Heian period, in the Katakami Shrine, Minamiicho, Sabae City. Its specific iconography is related to the very famous early Heian painting of the red Fudo preserved in the Myoo-in of the mount Koya temple in Wakayama, the main centre of Esoteric (Shingon) Buddhism in Japan.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related carved wood figure of Fudo Myo-o, Heian period, 12^th century, also with an accompanying C14 test, at Sotheby’s, 1 April 2018, Hong Kong, lot 3089 (sold for HKD 1,000,000 or approx. EUR 130,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).