Matsumoto Myokei (松本明慶)
Myokei MATSUMOTO (1945 -) is the present-day Busshi (sculptor of Buddhist statues) who belongs to the Keiha School. He was born in Kyoto City.
Career
1962: He became a disciple of Sokei NOZAKI, who was the Kyobusshi (sculptor of Buddhist statues in Kyoto).
1980: He was given the Kyoto Mayor's Prize at the Kyoto Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition.
1985: He was awarded the Kyoto Governor's Prize at the Kyoto Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition.
1988: He repaired a hundred Buddhist statues of Guimet Musée national des Arts Asiatiques, in Paris.
1991: He was given the title of Daibusshi (great sculptor of Buddhist statues).
His studio, called Matsumoto Kobo (studio), is located at Oharano, Nishikyo-ku Ward, Kyoto City, near the Yoshimine-dera and Jurin-ji temples (Kyoto City). He is the chairman of Kyoto sculptors of the Buddhist Statues Association.
June 18, 2006: He established the Matsumoto Myokei Buddhist Statue Carvings Museum in Kamigyo-ku Ward, Kyoto City. In September of the same year, "Ningen Document" (Human Document), produced by the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK), aired the production activity of that studio as 'Skill and Heart of Heisei period Busshi challenging Daibutsu' (Great Buddhist Statue).