Comprehensive Study on the images of high priests in Japan

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Aesthetics/Art history
• Research Institution: Tokai Gakuen University (2014-2015); Waseda University (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: ONO KAYO 東海学園大学, 人文学部, 准教授 (60386563)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 祖師像 / 高僧像 / 羅漢像 / 聖僧 / 鑑真 / 行信 / 空海 / 真言五祖像

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The images of high priests in Japan have been enshrined in temples as the images of the founder of a religious sect, or the priest who founded a temple　 from the ancient times, like the Buddha statue. However, after thoroughly studying the background of the productions and historical circumstances of each image, it becomes clear that there are many images that have different meanings from those pointed out by previous studies such as “Image for yearning”, “Image for worship”, “Image for generation-to-generation instruction from master to disciple”. In this study, it is intended to clarify the circumstances and the essence concerning the production of the images of high priests in Japan, by analysing the purpose,meaning and role of the production of the images from a new perspective.

Free Research Field

仏教美術史　日本彫刻史