Shimamura Shumpyo　嶋村俊表

On the wall of Shakado, or the hall of Buddha, at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture, a relief of wood carving depicting 500 Rakan is displayed. The sculptor is Shumpyo Shimamura. He was the 8th generation of the prestigious Shimamura family who was in charge of sculptures of temples and shrines officially recognized by the Edo Shogunate. Unlike the stone Buddha statue, it is not very noticeable, but it is a wonderful work. The 500 Rakan, or Arhat, refers to the 500 disciples who followed the Buddha. In Japan and China, there is a belief in the 500 Arhats, and there are many arts and crafts with this motif. The most famous 500 Rakans in Japan include Tokuzoji Temple in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Rakanji Temple in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture.

千葉県成田山新勝寺の釈迦堂の壁に、五百羅漢を描いた木彫のレリーフが飾られている。作者は嶋村俊表。江戸幕府公認の寺社仏閣の彫刻を担当した名門嶋村家の８代目だ。石仏像と違いあまり目立たないが、見事な作品だ。五百羅漢とは仏陀に付き従った５００人の弟子のことだ。日本や中国では五百羅漢への信仰があり、それをモチーフとした美術工芸品も多い。日本を代表する五百羅漢には、栃木県足利市の徳蔵寺、神奈川県鎌倉市の建長寺、大分県中津市の羅漢寺などがある。