The "Statue of Yoritomo" carved out of cedar that is said to have been planted about 800 years ago by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura Shogunate, was unveiled in Kyoto.
The cedar used in this statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo is said to have been planted by Yoritomo himself at a temple in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture about 800 years ago.
However, it collapsed 10 years ago, and a Buddhist sculptor in Kyoto decided to carve a statue of Yoritomo, who had become the shogun, in order to preserve the cedar for future generations. , It was produced for about nine months from January this year.
The statue of Yoritomo is dressed in a black robe and a purple hakama. The seated statue is 1 meter 10 centimeters high and 1 meter 47 centimeters wide. increase.
This statue is scheduled to be dedicated to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura at the beginning of next year.
Kouei Eri, a Buddhist sculptor who carved the statue of Yoritomo, said, ``Yoritomo led a life of many decisions, such as raising an army and establishing the shogunate while being beaten by the rough warriors of Bando, so I would like the viewer to feel courage. I was talking.