Lesson 6
Ashura A Statue with Thres Faces一
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Take a Moment to Think
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6 人 You been to Nara2 What do You like most about Nara?
ロ o you know ョanything about Ashura?
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Why do you think we have so many Buddhist statues in this country?
Tn 2009 an exhibition of Buddhist statues was held in Tokyo, and later in Kyushu. Itwasa
remarkable success, With over 1.650,000 visitors. The most popular feature was the statue
with three faces: Ashura.
In Nara Park you can see the Five-Storied Pagoda of Kofukuji Temple. On the temple
grounds is the Kofukuji National Treasure Museum, and this is where you can find one of the
best-known Buddhist statues in Japan: Ashura.
Kofukuji Temple was built by the Fujiwara family when Nara became the capital in 710.
It was one of the “Four Great Temples" of Nara.
Im 734 Empress Komyo established a hall to remember her mother and enshrined 28
statues. Among them are the 万acが7めsu the protectors of Buddha. There is a story that
Ashura was once a cruel warrior, constantly fighting with 7g7sカarたu7e7. Later, he woke up to
see the truth, repented, and became one of the protectors. From earliest times, people have
prayed to the 刀acカめusZg for healing and purification.
Through the centuries, many of the buildings and statues at Kofukuji Temple have been
destroyed by fre, war, and natural disasters. However, Ashura and the other 万acのusカu
have survived to the present day. One of the reasons for their survival is that they are hight
and could be easily carried when there was an emergency. Ashura, for instance, is 153
centimeters tall but wejghs only about 15 kilograms.
How do you make such light statues? First, you make a wooden frame and then you put
clay around it. Then you wrap it in cloth soaked in 1acquer and let it dry. You repeat this
process several times. Next,. you remove both the clay and the wood, leaving a hght, hollow
statue. Lastly, you put a hght wooden frame inside for support and add details using wood
powder mixed with lacquer. This method, which is called gaたたazsg たgs777sg (dry lacquer),
was introduced by artists from Korea, who are thought to have made Ashura and the other
7gc/7のgp.
The statue of Ashura you see now has survived nearly 1.300 years: the original colors
have changed and cracks have developed on its faces. You may want to know what Ashura
looked like at the time it was first created in 734. It is possible to find out. All you need to
do is to visit the Nara National Museum, where you can see a replica of Ashura in its origmal
colors.
The replica wears a golden ornament, which shows some influence from ancient Greece、
り
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