Kosho (康尚)
Kosho (dates of birth and death unknown) was a sculptor of Buddhist statues in the mid Heian period.
He was known as 'the pioneer of Buddhist sculptor.'
He was a father of Jocho.
He set up a studio, taking many apprentices including Jocho. When a temple was erected at the wish of the Imperial family or Sekkan-ke (the families which produced regents), or on Mt. Koya or Mt. Hiei, he was engaged in carving Buddhist statues.
His works
There were no extant authentic works of him, but Fudo Myoo zazo (the sitting statue of Acala, one of the Five Wisdom Kings) in Doju-in of the Tofuku-ji Temple was probably his work, which heralded the sophisticated and elegant Jocho style (Jocho-yo).