Mokujiki 新潟県小千谷市 小栗山木喰観世音堂

Photo: H.Sasaki

These statues were carved by Mokujiki Shonin (1718 - 1810).
Mokujiki was a holy Buddhist monk who abstain from meat and cooked food.
And he is also a sculptor of Buddhist statues.

Photo: H.Sasaki

He left a large amount of Buddhist statues in Edo era traveling the Japanese whole country.
It's about 2,000 statues. And it is found about 600 now.
But his work began 56 years old.

Photo: H.Sasaki

Mokujiki visited at poor village where nobody visit.
He carved Buddhist statues and dedicated them to poor people and temples.

Photo: H.Sasaki

His last works was 91 years old. It can be certified by his statue.
And it is said that his last was 93. But it's not confirmed.

Photo: H.Sasaki

After that his name had forgotten for 100 years.

Photo: H.Sasaki

In 1924 Mokujiki was found out by Yanagi Muneyoshi (Yanagi Soetsu).
Yanagi is known as founder of the mingei (folk craft) movement.

Photo: H.Sasaki

These pictures are seen at Oguriyama Mokujiki Kanzennondo temple, Niigata prefecture.

Photo: H.Sasaki

His a lot of masterpieces are soft and Smiled on us.

Photo: H.Sasaki

This calligraphic painting was written by Yanagi Muneyoshi (Yanagi Soetsu).
One of his son, Yanagi sori is known as a designer of Butterfly stool (Tendo product).