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Granite Dosojin Road Guardian Double-Jizo Muromachi
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Pre 1700 item# 886342 (stock# 283)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Two standing figures sculpted in relief from a fine-grained granite. Muromachi Period ca. 1500. Minor old loss, with desirable softening of the lines and contours overall. Excellent lichen and moss accumulation.Height: 44 cm
Width: 25.5 cm
Depth: 12 cm. Dosojin is the Japanese Shinto manifestation of an originally Chinese Taoist deity believed to guard against the encroachment of evil spirits and gods of disease into human communities. Accordingly, Dosojin is associated particularly with roads, crossroads, mountain passes, village boundaries, and travel generally. By the early- to mid-Edo Period ca. 1750, the most commonly observed form of Dosojin is a male and female figure standing or seated side by side. Earlier examples, on the other hand, typically feature either two Jizo Bosatsu figures—Dosojin's honjibutsu, or essential Buddhist identity, being Jizo Bosatsu—or, less often, two Amida Buddha figures standing or seated side by side. Dosojin stones have a talismanic, as opposed to memorial, function. Accordingly, they are avidly sought out by collectors of stone in Japan. This piece, with the two Jizo figures reduced by time to little more than kokeshi-doll outlines, is a notably charming example of this highly collectible genre of Japanese stone sculpture. (For additional examples of Dosojin stones in the double-Jizo style, please see our stock #63, stock #102, stock #131, and stock #309.)
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Stone Gorinto 5-Tiered Stupa Pagoda Buddha Edo 17 c.
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Pre 1700 item# 880846 (stock# 280)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Gorinto (5-tiered stupa) sculpted from a single stone. Clearly dated to the Meireki Era (1655–1658), early-Edo Period. Very minor old loss. Good lichen accumulation.Height: 49.2 cm
Width: 13.1 cm
Depth: 12.4 cm. The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms. E. Dale Saunders, in his 1959 classic, Mudra, notes that the Japanese Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism views the gorinto as a symbol of Dai-Nichi Buddha, who, underlying all things, manifests himself in the five elements making up the physical world. On one side of this gorinto, a bonji (Sanskrit character) is incised on each of the five geometric forms, in addition to the Meireki Era date. An excellent example of this stupa form, with significant size and irrefutable early-Edo temporal provenance.
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Stone Gorinto 5-Tiered Stupa Pagoda Buddha 15/16 c.
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Pre 1700 item# 880071 (stock# 278)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Gorinto (5-tiered stupa) sculpted in four pieces from a large-grained sandstone. Muromachi Period (1392-1568). Very minor old loss.Height: 57.1 cm
Width/depth of base: 17.5 cm. The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms. E. Dale Saunders, in his 1959 classic, Mudra, states that the Japanese Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism views the gorinto as a symbol of Dai-Nichi Buddha, who, underlying all things, manifests himself in the five elements making up the physical world. Gorinto sculpted in four pieces, the uppermost piece comprising two of the five geometric forms, are far more uncommon than gorinto sculpted from a single stone. This is a notably good example of type, precisely hewn and delicately balanced.
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Stone Itahi Aoishitoba Blue-Stone Stupa Nanbokucho 15c
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Pre 1492 item# 877933 (stock# 277)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Stone depiction of an itahi, commonly referred to as an aoishitoba (lit. blue-stone stupa), sculpted from a blue-green schist, with the three Sanskrit characters forming the Amida Triad incised onto the front surface. Nanbokucho Period ca. 1400. Very minor old loss to the perimeter; otherwise, exceptionally clean. Light lichen accumulation, including a dry tuft clinging tenaciously just above the line of insertion toward the lower end.Height: 104.2 cm
Maximum width: 28.7 cm
Thickness: 5.0 cm. The earliest extant examples of stone itahi date to the mid-Kamakura Period ca. 1250, while the most recent examples date to the first decade or so of the Edo Period ca. 1615, after which time the production of stone itahi ceased. The type of blue-green schist from which this piece is hewn was traditionally quarried primarily in the Kanto Plain region comprising Tokyo and bordering prefectures. Incised onto the front surface of this itahi are three bonji (Sanskrit characters), the upper bonji symbolizing Amida Buddha and the lower two bonji symbolizing Kannon Bodhisattva and Seishi Bodhisattva. This tripartite formation, known as the Amida Triad, is a frequently encountered motif in the Pure Land Buddhist sects and is held to signify Amida Buddha's descent on earth to collect the souls of the departed faithful in preparation for removal to the Western Paradise. With a narrow tongue-like projection at the lower end, this piece was sculpted for easy insertion into the soil. Such sizable itahi as this example are encountered only very rarely in the local market, and almost never does one chance upon a piece in such laudable condition. A notably desirable example of a highly collectible type of Japanese stone.
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Stone Nyoirin Kannon Bodhisattva Buddha Jizo Edo
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Pre 1800 item# 872225 (stock# 275)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Stone depiction of Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu, a long-stemmed lotus blossom held in the left hand. Mid- to late-Edo Period ca. 1750. Desirable softening of the lines and contours, with no loss to speak of. Excellent lichen accumulation overall, including whitish patches on the upper-right-hand perimeter.Height: 42.7 cm
Width of base: 20.3 cm
Depth of base: 19.3 cm. One of Kannon Bosatsu's 33 manifestations, Nyoirin Kannon is the only deity in the Buddhist pantheon depicted in the seated pose of royal ease. The lotus blossom held in the figure's left hand is a rarely seen iconographical variation in the case of stone examples of this deity. A striking Nyoirin Kannon stone in virtually pristine condition and with good age.
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Stone Jizo Bodhisattva Buddha Kannon Edo Lichen Zen
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Pre 1800 item# 869359 (stock# 274)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Figuratively sculpted stone depiction of a standing Jizo Bosatsu with hands in the gassho adoration mudra accompanied by its original lotus-form dais. Mid-Edo Period ca. 1750. Old loss to both hands. Variegated lichen accumulation.Height, including lotus-form dais: 62 cm
Height of Jizo figure only: 48 cm
Upper-surface diameter of lotus-form dais: 26 cm. The absence of any inscription whatsoever on this piece implies that it was originally grouped with five similar Jizo pieces in a six-Jizo ensemble. Only rarely does one find a figuratively sculpted stone Jizo complete with its original lotus-form dais. An elegantly sculpted stone rarity, imperfect yet highly desirable nonetheless.
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Stone Monju Bosatsu Bodhisattva Buddha Jizo Kannon Edo
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Pre 1837 VR item# 865562 (stock# 272)
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Antique Stones Japan
+81-3-3352-3799
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Seated Monju Bosatsu sculpted from a large-grained sandstone. Mid- to late-Edo Period ca. 1800. Minor loss. Excellent lichen accumulation.Height: 49.3 cm
Width of base: 22.4 cm
Depth of base: 17.5 cm. Monju (Skt. Manjushri), the bodhisattva of wisdom, is typically depicted with an upraised sword in the right hand and a scroll in the left, as in this example. When depicted in wood, Monju typically sits upon a lion mount accompanied by Fugen Bosatsu seated upon an elephant mount, the two bodhisattva placed on either side of Shaka Buddha in a formation known as the Shaka Triad. Stone depictions of Monju, on the other hand, typically do not include a lion mount. A strong Monju sculpted in bold relief, with desirable lichen accumulation overall. Extremely uncommon.
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