地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

National Treasure Hall

Head of Shakyamuni Buddha

National Treasure

This large wood-lacquer head depicts Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism who attained enlightenment and vowed to save all sentient beings in the fifth century BCE. Originally covered in gold leaf, it was carved by the renowned Buddhist sculptor Unkei (1150–1223) around 1189. The head was originally part of the principal image of Kofukuji’s Western Golden Hall and was created to replace an eighth-century image that had been lost to fire. When the hall burned down in 1717, only artifacts that could be removed from larger works were saved. The statues of Bonten and Taishakuten, also in the Kofukuji National Treasure Hall, were originally displayed alongside the Buddha statue to which this head belonged.

Shakyamuni is depicted with full cheeks and lips, gracefully arched eyebrows and stylized spiral cones (rahotsu) signifying the stubble of a shaved head. They indicate that Shakyamuni shaved his head in renunciation of worldly affairs. Another feature of this head is that it lacks an urna, the auspicious spiral or dot on its forehead that symbolizes the light that was emitted from the Buddha’s forehead before he began to preach. According to Kofukuji legend, the sculptor of the eighth century Buddha was going to place a crystal urna in the head of that original statue when the forehead suddenly split open and light poured out. He abandoned his plan for the artificial urna, and Unkei, who created the replacement image, followed suit.

國寶館

木造佛頭（釋迦如來像頭部）

重要文化財產

這尊木漆大佛頭刻畫的是釋迦牟尼，他是佛教的創始人，在公元前5世紀悟道，發願普度眾生。這尊佛頭是原興福寺西金堂（西側大雄寶殿）本尊佛的一部分，佛像製作於1189年，出自著名佛像造像師運慶（1150-1223）之手，原本是為了替代毀於火災的一尊8世紀佛像。1717年，西金堂被焚毀，僅有部分可自大件藏品上拆下的物品得以幸存。現藏於國寶館中的梵天像和帝釋天像最初就安放在這尊佛頭所屬的釋迦牟尼像旁。

這尊佛頭上原本覆有金箔，面頰飽滿，雙唇豐厚，眉弓優雅，頭頂藝術化的螺發肉髻。螺發指向剃度，傳達了釋迦牟尼剃發出家、脫離俗世的決心。頭像的另一獨特之處，是沒有畫出「白毫相」。「白毫」是佛像前額中心吉祥的螺旋紋或圓點，代表佛陀開始傳道之前自前額釋放的光明。按照興福寺的說法，8世紀那尊佛像的造像師原本打算以水晶作白毫，不料佛頭前額突然裂開，有光明傾瀉而出。於是，他放棄了人工添加白毫的計劃。創作如今這尊佛像的運慶沿襲了他的做法。

国宝馆

木造佛头（释迦如来像头部）

重要文化财产

这尊木漆大佛头刻画的是释迦牟尼，他是佛教的创始人，在公元前5世纪悟道，发愿普度众生。这尊佛头是原兴福寺西金堂（西侧大雄宝殿）本尊佛的一部分，佛像制作于1189年，出自著名佛像造像师运庆(1150–1223)之手，原本是为了替代毁于火灾的一尊8世纪佛像。1717年，西金堂被焚毁，仅有部分可自大件藏品上拆下的物品得以幸存。现藏于国宝馆中的梵天像和帝释天像最初就安放在这尊佛头所属的释迦牟尼像旁。

这尊佛头上原本覆有金箔，面颊饱满，双唇丰厚，眉弓优雅，头顶艺术化的螺发肉髻。螺发指向剃度，传达了释迦牟尼剃发出家、脱离俗世的决心。头像的另一独特之处，是没有画出“白毫相”。“白毫”是佛像前额中心吉祥的螺旋纹或圆点，代表佛陀开始传道之前自前额释放的光明。按照兴福寺的说法，8世纪那尊佛像的造像师原本打算以水晶作白毫，不料佛头前额突然裂开，有光明倾泻而出。于是，他放弃了人工添加白毫的计划。创作如今这尊佛像的运庆沿袭了他的做法。