Also daibusshi-shiki 大仏師職, zōbutsu-chōkan 造仏長官. An important Buddhist sculptor *…

Also jōrokubutsu 丈六仏. The term used to describe a very large statue of Buddha. Originally any statue more than…

A standard lotus pedestal *rengeza 蓮華座 used to support a *…

Also sōgyari 僧伽梨 (Sk: sanghati). A robe worn by Buddhist priests. The largest of the three robes *…

1　An abbreviation for *Daikokuten 大黒天 (Sk: Mahakala). Regarded by…

A pedestal or dais upon which a Buddhist image is placed. The type of pedestal is related to the type of image it supports…

Also dakkanshitsu 脱乾漆, dakkatsu kanshitsuzō 脱活乾漆像, dakkatsu kanshitsu-zukuri 脱活乾漆造. Hollow dry…

A Buddhist statue made from fragrant, fine-grained wood such as white sandalwood *…

A Noh mask *nōmen 能面 used to represent a terrestrial spirit or a dragon god.…

Gold eyes. A Noh mask, *nōmen 能面, representing a mature woman who carries within…

Also hōdō 宝幢, tendō 天幢, or bandō 幡幢. A small, rectangular cloth banner on a pole used as a…

The movable face plate. The most elaborate gimmick used on the bugaku mask, *…

Rotating eyes, a gimmick used for many bugaku masks, *bugakumen 舞楽面…

Lit. child, young boy.

1　A boy between 8 and 20 years old living in a Buddhist temple. He studies…

Decorative drapery used on statues in the Kamakura region from the late Kamakura period. The drapery was made in clay relief…

A technique where a mixture of animal glue, *nikawa 膠, and powdered burnt clay…

Bronze work. Bronze casting has been very important in Japan since ancient times, and was used for Yayoi period dōtaku…

Also written 中子. Sometimes known as *ogata 雄型. Inner mould. When a metal statue…

Lit. "Becoming bestial." A Noh mask *nōmen 能面 used for the wife taking revenge…

A general term for Buddhist sculptors *busshi 仏師 working in Nara…

Also nankin busshi or nankyō busshi 南京仏師, yamashinadera busshi 山階寺仏師, otera busshi 御寺仏師…

A dance piece in *bugaku 舞楽 and the mask *…

A type of wooden sculpture characterized by round chisel nata 鉈 marks that are left on the surface. Natabori…

Also juzu 数珠, 誦数. A string of beads or a rosary, used for Buddhist prayer and invocation. Particularly associated…

Also gyōdō 行道, gōshō-e 迎接会, raigō-e 来迎会. A Buddhist ceremony brought to Japan from the…

A modelling material resembling *kokuso-urushi 木屎漆 but harder in…

A dance piece in *bugaku 舞楽 performed right after *…

A statue or painting depicting the Buddhas *Shaka 釈迦 and Tahō 多宝…

Also nijū enkōhai 二重円光背, nijū ensō二重円相. Lit. "double round halo." A type of halo *…

Also muken chōsō 無見頂相, chōkeisō 頂髻相, *ushitsunisha…

From the late Heian period a small circle carved at the front part of the base of the *nikkei…

Noh mask *nōmen 能面 made for the role of the ghost of the broken-hearted…

Also written 上り髭, Lit. "climbing beard." The name of a mask used in kyōgen 狂言 plays. Noborihige has the…

Also 納衣, shinnōe 刺納衣 or 刺衲衣, nōgesa 衲袈裟, nō 衲.

1　A Buddhist priest's…

Masks used in the *Noh 能 theater and worn by the main actor shite シテ, and his…

Also nōsashō hōju 能作性宝珠, mani hōju 摩尼宝珠. A sacred jewel, said to remove suffering, and capable of granting…

An implement carried by Buddhist priests at a ceremony or during formal preaching. It has a slightly curved handle about 30-…