chinsō chōkoku 頂相彫刻

Also chinzō chōkoku, see *chinsō 頂相. Portrait sculptures of Zen 禅 masters. This tradition was brought to Japan in the Kamakura period from Northern Song China, and flourished with the rise of the Zen sect. The portraits are similar in form; most show the priest seated in a special chair known as *kyokuroku 曲ろく, with long hanging sleeves and hem on his robe. The chair has a footrest, and shoes are shown below the feet. Most of the portraits were made during the subject's lifetime or shortly after death and are often highly individual likenesses. The practice of making chinsō chōkoku exerted an influence outside of Zen, and spread to other Buddhist sects.