Statues and Canopies in the Konjikido (Golden Hall) of Chusonji

The Buddhas Above the Tombs of Three Generations

The Statues and Canopies in the Konjikido (Golden Hall) of Chusonji (金色堂堂内諸像及天蓋) is the Heian-period statues and canopies enshrined in the Konjikido, the Golden Hall of Konjikiin at Chusonji in Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture, which in 2004 were designated a National Treasure.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records them as owned by Konjikiin, first designated an Important Cultural Property in 1956.

According to the Agency, a ridge-beam inscription dated 1124 records that the hall was built by Fujiwara no Kiyohira and his principal wife with members of his family.

The Three Platforms

According to the Agency, on the central platform holding the remains of Kiyohira (died 1128) stand an Amida triad, six Jizo and two guardian kings; the remains of the second and third lords, Motohira (died about 1157) and Hidehira (died 1187), were placed in the side platforms with figures of the same composition. Canopies hang above the central figure of each platform.

Later decay of the hall confused the placement of the figures. The Agency considers the Amida on the right platform, smaller and with a different hand gesture, to have come from elsewhere; the other 31 figures are of cypress, hiba and katsura, made by both split-and-joined and assembled-block methods.

What to Look For

The Agency notes that the central Amida triad, with full round faces, reflects the style of the En school of Buddhist sculptors in the capital in the early twelfth century. Differences in style among the side groups could be matched to the dates of the three platforms, but without inscriptions finer identification remains to be done.

Notice the three platforms holding the remains of three generations, each crowned by the same group of Buddhas.

Visiting the Statues and Canopies in the Konjikido (Golden Hall) of Chusonji

Chusonji is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from 1 March to 3 November and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from 4 November to the end of February. Admission to the Konjikido and Sankozo museum is 1,000 yen for adults.

Enquiries: Chusonji office, 0191-46-2211.