This piece, called the Standing Fudo Myoo (Mokuchôfudômyôôzô), is a similar style to Unkei's work and was also created in the Kamakura Period. Photo: Photo: Property of the Kyoto National Museum. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

One of the most famous Japanese sculptors of all time is Unkei. Born in 1148, he lived during the Kamakura period of Japanese history and introduced realism and injected spiritual intensity into Japanese sculpture. The greatest of Unkei's many works are his wooden statues for Buddhist temples. His most famous statue appears at the Todai-ji Monastery in Nama and depicts two guardian deities. Unkei was assisted i in his craft by his six sons. The eldest, named Tankei, continued his father’s style and added his own style relating to Chinese Song scripture. Tankei supervised the restoration of the thousand statues of the Thousand-armed Kannon in Kyoto.