A nondestructive dendrochronological study on japanese wooden shinto art sculptures using micro-focus X-ray Computed Tomography (CT): Reviewing two methods for scanning objects of different sizes

Abstract

This paper discusses a dendrochronological approach to studying works of art associated with Shintoism, an indigenous religion of Japan. Chronological studies of Shinto artwork are, by comparison, lagging behind the studies on artwork associated with the other primary religion of Japan, Buddhism. This author believes that a scientific approach, such as dendrochronology, could play an effective part in narrowing this gap.In this experiment, we conducted a series of nondestructive imaging of wooden Shinto sculptures, utilizing a micro-focus X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) system, and performed tree-ring width measurements using digital image measurement software to obtain dendrochronological information. In terms of scanning operations, one of two methods was used according to the size of the object under review. The larger object, a statue of a guardian lion-dog (Komainu), was dendrochronologically dated to 1581, and the smaller deity statues were dated 1178. The dendrochronological data gained through this experiment will be an extremely valuable resource for future studies on Shinto artwork in Japan.