Monday, December 30, 2013

BONJI

Illustrated is a carved wood panel from a catalogue I found circa 1983. The panel was carved by Tsukigata Nahiko and portrays a bonji or an ancient Sanskrit character which originated in Northern Indian and through centuries of transmission made their way in to Japan and were used by a variety of Buddhist sects for mantra(s) and sutra. This is the first bonji I have seen carved by Tsukigata and the choice of wood, style of carving and placement within the panel are just wonderful.