Restoration of the Seated Statue of the Reverend Butchi Gusai, Founder of Kōrinji Temple, Tokyo (2005)
元禄10年(1697年、江戸時代) 修復年 2005年
Reverend Kōsai was a priest belonging to the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism who was famous for preaching in a way that was easily understandable to a wide range of people. He was active during the early Edo period (1603–1868) and was the founder of Kōrinji Temple.
This statue was produced during the Edo period, it has been carefully colored and the face carved with great skill to bring out the personality of the priest. It can be said to be representative of the statues produced during this era.
The restoration consisted of careful cleaning while simultaneously preventing flaking and touching up the coloring where flaking has detracted from the statue’s countenance. As a result of this restoration, the work was returned to something approaching its original bright color.

首枘に記された墨書の内容

クリーニング後(白いテープは養生紙)

養生紙の除去

剥落止め前

養生紙を貼って樹脂を塗布する

剥落止めの完了

クリーニング直後の面部

地色を補彩した状態

頭髪の復元

眉の復元

復元の参考にした肖像画(紙本着色、光林禅寺所蔵)

修復後写真
