East Asia, Japan, Edo period, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful stone relief carving depicting a meditating monk, Kobo Daishi (774 to 835 CE), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, upon an integral pedestal with a back panel framing his back and head. This sculpture depicts Kobo Daishi just before his departure from this world; he sits tranquilly in full lotus with his legs crossed. One hand resting on his lap holds a beaded japamala necklace, and the other hand holds a vajra. He is dressed in a flowing robe that covers both shoulders and cascades over his legs. A traditional flower tassel hangs over his shoulder. His head is shaved, and his eyes are closed, with a serene expression upon his face. Size: 12.75" L x 6.5" W x 17.5" H (32.4 cm x 16.5 cm x 44.4 cm)

Kukai known posthumously as Kobo Daishi (774 to 835 CE) came into this world in what is the modern-day Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku via legendary circumstances. Following a dream of an Indian sage entering her abdomen, his mother became pregnant. His family belonged to the aristocratic Saeki family, but little is known of his childhood. At the age of 15 he moved to the capital with his uncle who taught him the Chinese classics. He then attended the national university but grew weary of Confucian studies. Instead, he became enamored with Buddhism and studied under the Buddhist monk Gonso. He also studied esoteric Buddhism with a practice devoted to the Bodhisattva Kokuzo. At the age of 20, in 793, he made the decision to enter the priesthood and changed his name to Kyokai, later changed it to Nyoku, and finally when he was fully ordained as a priest, he took the name Kukai. At the age of twenty-four, in his "Indications of the Three Teachings" (Sango shiiki) he described his dissatisfaction with day-to-day life and his quest for meaning, in short, his reasons for entering the priesthood. He wandered in the mountains, studying the scriptures, and practicing Morning Star meditation of Kokuzo and other esoteric rituals. He found his purpose and continued to study, practice, and teach. Later in life, Kukai wrote many essays and poems producing the Shingon doctrine. Perhaps the most important of his writings are the essay "The Ten Levels of the Development of the Mind" and a shorter piece entitled "The Precious Key to the Secret Treasury." Kukai achieved many great accomplishments in his lifetime, including the founding of the first private school in Japan open to the public. He was also a master of calligraphy, painting, and sculpture, the inventor of the Japanese syllabary, a discoverer of hot springs, and an authority on the use of coal, as well as the construction of bridges, dams, and roads. The events of his final days are quite poignant. According to scholar David Moreton, "In the first month of 835, he performed a week-long service for the peace and prosperity of Japan inside the Imperial palace. Then, in the second month, he announced his departure from Kyoto and headed for the last time to Koyasan. Upon arriving in Koyasan for his last time, he began a fast which included no grain or flesh and practiced seated meditation. On the fifteenth day of the third month, he called his disciples together in order to announce that on the twenty-first day he would pass away. Then, after ritually purifying his body and donning clean robes, he went to a room where he assumed the lotus position. Then he placed his hands in the mudra (ritual gesture) symbolizing Dainichi Nyorai, chanted the mantra of Dainichi, and entered the meditation of Maitreya (the Buddha of the future). He remained in this state for seven days until the twenty-first of the third month in 835, when he passed away, just as he had predicted. He was sixty-two years old. In 919, fifty-eight years later, the Emperor Daigo bestowed upon him the posthumous honorific title "Kobo Daishi, Great Master of the Propagated Teaching."

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-M. Kobiashi collection, Hawaii, USA, 1960 to 2000

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#167400

Remains of a vegetal vine / root marks across the surface. Abrasion and surface chipping to verso. Mineral deposits and earthen deposits on the surface. Chips to upper corners of back panel. Details are excellent and sharp.