Let's go to Eirinji Temple and Saifukuji Temple in Uonuma, Niigata and enjoy the sculptures of "Ishikawa Uncho", the Michelangelo of Japan!
- Niigata
- Sightseeing
Enjoy the world of Ishikawa Uncho♪
His abilities were not limited to wood carving, but also included stone carving, painting, and temple design, and more than 1,000 of his works still exist in Niigata Prefecture today.
What kind of person is Ishikawa Uncho?
Ishikawa Uncho (real name: Ishikawa Yasubei) was born in 1814 in Zoshigaya, present-day Tokyo.
It is said that at the age of around 20, he was allowed to take on the surname of "Belt" after mastering the secrets of the Ishikawa style of Edo carving.
It is said that he decided to move to Niigata Prefecture at the age of 32, after being persuaded to do so by Sanjo's hardware merchant Uchiyama Matazo.
After that, while he was based in Sanjo and engaged in production activities in the neighborhood, he became a son-in-law of the Sakai family in Sanjo under the care of Uchiyama and became an Echigo-Tsumari.
Since Ishikawa Uncho's residence and his family temple, Honjoji, were destroyed by fire, there is no record of his own photographs, portraits, or personality.
However, through the splendor of his works, Ishikawa Uncho as a person is very mysterious and fascinating.
We are sure that the works of Ishikawa Uncho will make you wonder what kind of person he was... . . What kind of person was he? It is a very romantic way to enjoy Uncho's works.
There are two temples in Uonuma City that have works by Ishikawa Uncho!
They are deeply related to Ishikawa Uncho, and you can learn about his achievements and episodes during his lifetime!
First stop: Eirinji Temple
Bensei, the abbot of the temple at that time, was so enamored with Ishikawa Uncho's skill that he offered him a big bet: "If you win, I will pay you for your work, and if I win, I will fill the main hall of Eirin-ji Temple with my masterpiece, without sparing any time or effort.
The result was that Bensei won, and in 1855, Ishikawa Uncho came to Eirin-ji Temple.
While staying at the temple and rebuilding the main hall, Ishikawa Uncho spent 13 years designing the main hall and creating a variety of sculptures and other works of art. He designed the main hall and created various carvings and other works over a period of 13 years.
Among them are "Dragon" and "Phoenix" on the outer corridor of the main hall and "Phoenix" on the inner corridor. The "Phoenix" in the inner sanctuary. Tennyo (Heavenly Maiden)" on the lanterns in the hall of tablets. The "Saya-no-Nakayama Snake-bodied Bird" on the balustrade is a work of art with superb openwork carving and superb coloring. Ishikawa Uncho was also a gifted painter, and his paintings on the ceiling of Eirin-ji include "Sparrow and Mountain Sparrow on Plum," "Nishiki Chicken," "Chicken," "Sun and Hawk," and "Minamoto Yorimasa's Snake Bird and Buddha" on the ceiling of the temple.
The temple has the largest collection of Uncho's works and is internationally acclaimed.
What is Eirinji Temple?
Eirin-ji Temple was founded more than 500 years ago, and is a famous Soto Zen temple with a long history that was authorized to build the main hall as a place for incense by Tadanao Matsudaira, grandson of Ieyasu Tokugawa (founder of the Tsuyama domain in Sakushu) and his son Mitsunaga Matsudaira (lord of the Takata domain in Echigo), and was allowed to use the crest of three leaves hollyhock.
It is a temple of victory and is visited by many pilgrims.
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Location
1765 Nekoya, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture Access
Approximately 20 minutes on foot from "Echigo-Horinouchi Station" on the JR Joetsu Line
Approximately 3 minutes by car from the Horinouchi IC of the Kanetsu Expressway*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
The images were provided by the Uonuma City Tourist Association.
The second site is "Kaizando of Seifukuji Temple
When the monk Dairyu spoke of his passion for Buddhism, Uncho understood his passion and expressed it beautifully in the form of sculptures.
For Ishikawa Uncho, this was the first time that he was entrusted with such a large project by himself, and it is said that his encounter with Dairyu had a great impact on his life, as it led to his blossoming as a sculptor.
Among his works, the "Zen Master Dogen's Chofu with a Fierce Tiger" is particularly impressive!
Please visit the museum!
With his great work at Kaisando, he received commissions from all over the place, and Uncho became a master of Echigo-Tsumari.
What is Saifukuji Temple (Kaisando-Do)?
The Kaisandō Hall, built by the 23rd abbot Bantoku Dairyū, enshrines the founder of the Soto sect, Dogen, and the abbot Hōshū Soshun, who founded Seifukuji Temple, as well as successive generations of abbots.
In addition to the gigantic sculptures, there are also numerous remaining wood fillings on the floor of the main hall's grand corridor, applied by Unchou, that show the playful spirit of the master sculptor.
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Location
174 Oura, Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Access
Approx. 15 minutes by cab or bus from "Koide" station on the JR Joetsu line, or approx. 10 minutes on foot after getting off the bus.
10 minutes by cab or bus from Urasa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line. 10 minutes on foot after getting off the bus.
7 minutes by car from the Koide IC on the Kanetsu Expressway.*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
The images were provided by the Uonuma City Tourist Association.
Please use Ishikawa Uncho Guide!
You may discover something new by listening to detailed explanations of his works!
We can arrange a guide for both groups and individuals.
*Guides can be arranged for both groups and individuals. Please understand in advance.