Bright circle - Myoen

He was a Buddhist sculptor of the En school who was active from the late Heian to the early Kamakura period. His name can also be read as "Meien". He was the son of Chuen, and in 1166 (Jin'an 1) he made the Amida Triad for the memorial service of the late regent Fujiwara no Motozane. He was mainly involved in making Buddhist statues for the Imperial Court and the Fujiwara clan, and early on he rose to the high rank of Hoin, a monk, and wielded influence alongside Inson of the In school. When Kofuku-ji Temple was rebuilt after the Jisho War (1180), he became the Great Buddha sculptor of the Kondo Hall and completed it, but it is well known that he competed with Inson and Seicho of the Kei school during this time. His representative works include the five statues of the Five Great Wisdom Kings (Ku), which were made in 1176 (Angen 2) at the Shichijoden Hirogosho Palace and are now housed at Daikakuji Temple. Based on traditional styles, these works demonstrate a state of skilful maturity, with their wrathful yet elegant appearances, and they also incorporate realism, which was a requirement of the times, and are worthy of attention. In late autumn of 1179 (Jisho 3), a robber broke into his empty house in the eastern part of Sanjo Nankyo, killing his wife and disciple. The fact that the house was in Sanjo is thought to be related to the fact that Myoen's lineage was later called Sanjo Butsujo, and the fact that a disciple was in the house is an interesting historical document that provides insight into the lives of Buddhist sculptors at the time. After Myoen, the En school lost its following and was overwhelmed by the Kei school.

[Akio Sato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安後期から鎌倉初期にかけて活躍した円派(えんぱ)の仏師(ぶっし)。「めいえん」とも読む。忠円の子で、1166年（仁安1）故関白藤原基実(もとざね)法事の阿弥陀(あみだ)三尊をつくったのをはじめ、主として宮廷、藤原氏関係の造仏に携わり、早くから僧の高位である法印位に上り、院派の院尊と並んで権勢を振るった。治承(じしょう)の乱（1180）後の興福寺復興にあたっては金堂大仏師(だいぶっし)となって完成させたが、このとき院尊や慶派(けいは)の成朝(せいちょう)と競り合った話は有名である。代表作には1176年（安元2）に七条殿弘御所でつくった現大覚寺蔵の五大明王像五躯(く)があるが、伝統的な古様を踏まえ、忿怒(ふんぬ)相ながらも優雅な姿をもった巧みな円熟の境地を示す作品で、時代の要求ともいうべき写実性も加味されており、注目される。1179年（治承3）の晩秋に三条南京極(きょうごく)東の留守宅に強盗が入り妻と弟子が殺されているが、その家が三条にあったことは、のちに明円の系統が三条仏所とよばれたことと関連すると思われ、また弟子がその家にいたことは当時の仏師の生活を知る史料として興味深い。明円のあと円派は人を得ず、慶派に圧倒されていった。

［佐藤昭夫］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例