Glittering Gilded Bronze Buddha Statues: Pursuing the Ancient Craft
The Museum of Osaka University
This event has ended.
Gilded bronze Buddha statues are just as their name implies: Buddha statues crafted of bronze and gilded with gold plating. During the Asuka Period, which took place in the middle of the 6th century, when these gilded bronze Buddha statues were introduced to Japan, the emperor took one look at these statues and praised their craftsmanship, calling them kirakirashi, or “glittering.” The history of gilded bronze Buddha statues goes back to ancient times. We know of examples of these statues from 2nd and 3rd century Gandhara, and the first proper Buddha statues made in China were gilded. In Japan, the “golden age” of these gilded bronze Buddha statues was from the Asuka Period to the Nara Period, a prime example of these being the Great Buddha at Todaiji in Nara.
Bronze is an alloy composed of copper and tin or lead. In order to make gilded bronze Buddha statues, the bronze is melted and poured into a mold. It’s easy to simply describe the process in just a few sentences, but in actuality, various methods were attempted in making these statues. There are two types of molds, dirt and wax, and they both have their own distinct production process. Differences such as melting points, fluidity, color, and hardness can be found in the bronze itself depending on its composition. In addition to these, the method of securing the position of the internal and external molds and the way in which the spout and exit are constructed also hold many mysteries to the production methods of these gilded bronze Buddha statues. At this exhibit, we will display the production process models of the Buddha head at Kofukuji Temple, as well as some 40 examples of gilded bronze Buddha statues from all parts of Asia along with their component analyses in order to pursue the mysteries of the production methods of this ancient craft.
[Related Event]
International Symposium “Pursuing the Mysteries of Production Methods of Gilded Bronze Buddha Statues”
Date: Dec.12 (Sat) 10:00-17:10
Location: Sigma Hall, International Building, School of Engineering Science, Toyonaka Campus, Osaka University
Please refer to the official site for further details.
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Schedule
from October 24, 2015 at 10:30 to December 22, 2015 at 17:00