Observe the elegant and firm precision of Buddhist iconography wooden sculpture
1.5 hour private experience
Location: Otokuni District, Kyoto Prefecture
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
Upon seeing a carved image of a Buddha at Kyoto National Museum while on a middle school outing, Myoukai was immediately captivated by the aura that emanated from this wooden sculpture and knew he wanted to craft something like that when he grew up. After training and undergoing a 20-year apprenticeship under a renowned busshi master in Kyoto, Myoukai, originally from Fukuoka, went independent and opened his own studio, where he carves commissioned pieces from temples and does repairs and reconstructions of relics, as well as crafting his own personal works. His goal in his craft is to capture the aura of the wood or tree used in each carved piece and aims to create pieces that will one day become national treasures for generations to come.
What you’ll do
Tour the master busshi's studio, beginining with the first stage, rough carving. Then, catch a glimpse of works in progress in the master's workspace. Finally, see the final pieces on display in the studio's showroom.
Who can attend
Children must be 15+
Availability
Everyday
Session 1 (10:00 - 11:30)
Session 2 (13:00 - 15:30)
Session 3 (15:30 - 17:00)
Access
30 minutes by car from Kyoto Station
Carving Spirituality
Chips of wood fly as the artisan cuts in a block of camphor wood, and from a single block of wood emerges a beautifully carved Buddha, or other Buddhist image. Such artisans arrived in Japan in tandem with the advent of Buddhism, bringing with them their specialised skills of carving spiritual images from wood. From carving Buddhist images to be stored and worshipped in temples, to designing and guiding the creation of massive projects such as Nara's Great Buddha, these specialised wood sculptors, called busshi, have passed their skill and craft down through the generations. Present-day busshi still use the same methods and techniques that were first brought to Japan more than 1,400 years ago. At this busshi artisan's studio in Kyoto, the master busshi carefully and swiftly, with measured precision, knocks and cuts pieces of wood off the wooden block before him, following the outline of the Buddhist icon sketched out on the surface of the block. Immerse yourself in the entire process, from start to finish, of how carved Buddhist iconography is created, showcased by the master artisan himself, and witness this spiritual craft up close.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
Tours will rarely be canceled or changed, even in cases of bear activity or bad weather.