Wood identification of Japanese Shinto deity statues in Matsunoo-taisha Shrine in Kyoto by synchrotron X-ray microtomography and conventional microscopy methods

Suyako Tazuru,Junji Sugiyama

doi:10.1186/s10086-019-1840-2

Suyako Tazuru, Junji Sugiyama

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s10086-019-1840-2

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Abstract

Research on the wood species of Japanese Buddhist statues has an over 60 years’ history and recently many Buddhist “Ichiboku” statues carved out of a single bole made from the Nara to Heian periods were scientifically revealed to be made of Torreya nucifera. Shinto deity statues in Japan, however, have not yet been investigated scientifically. Because many Shinto deity statues are enshrined behind closed doors, there are fewer opportunities to investigate them. To examine the differences and similarities in wood selection between Buddhist and Shinto deity statues, wood identification was conducted on the 11 Shinto deity statues of Matsunoo-taisha Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, using synchrotron X-ray microtomography and conventional microscopy methods. The results indicated two female deity statues with the ink inscriptions indicating the production year of 1143 were of Torreya nucifera, one female deity statue of Zelkova serrata, and the other eight statues, i.e., two female deity statues, four male deity statues and two priestly attire deity statues of Prunus s.l. spp.

Highlights

Wood identification of archeological materials and wooden heritages has provided useful information on the origin and historical background of the cultural heritage and sometimes provided a new perspective as well [1]
Our results showed that Prunus s.l. spp. (d–k in Table 1), Torreya nucifera (b and c in Table 1) and Zelkova serrata were used for the studied Shinto statues
From the above-described features, it is likely to be made by domestic wood and this was identified as Zelkova serrata (Fig. 2)

Summary

Introduction

Wood identification of archeological materials and wooden heritages has provided useful information on the origin and historical background of the cultural heritage and sometimes provided a new perspective as well [1]. Wood identification has recently played an important role in the interpretation of wood selection for Buddhist statues from the late eighth century [2–4]. Japanese art historians have been discussing wood selection for Japanese Buddhist statues for many years. In the ancient period in Japan, the type of wood used for statues might have changed drastically from Cinnamomum camphora in the seventh century to coniferous wood in the eighth century. Buddhist statues have been investigated from various aspects. Compared to Buddhist statues, the study of Japanese Shinto deity statues has been comparatively behind [6]. Because Shinto deity statues tend to be enshrined behind closed doors as gods, this provided difficulties in investigating them. A systematic investigation of deity statues has lagged behind and most deities have been studied only structurally, historically, and art historically

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Conclusion