Kamakura period (1186)
Bisyamon-ten is one of the four Heavenly Kings and is often thought of as a god of warfare. In Buddhism, he is a protector of the northern direction.
Many samurais worshipped Bisyamon-ten, particularly during war-torn eras.
Particularly eye-catching is the contrast between the dark body and the strikingly bright white eyes. ＊Unkei
運慶（Unkei／？-1223）
Ernest Fenollosa, the American art historian who made the first full inventory of Japanese artistic treasures in 1882, said: “Unkei to the Japanese is like Michelangelo to the West.”
Unkei is the most famous Buddhist sculptor in Japan. He had intimate connections with many prominent cultural figures and samurais in medieval Japan, and produced numerous outstanding pieces.
His works are characterized by their dynamic and often masculine expressions, that were unlike the traditional Buddhist statues with their characteristically calm appearances.
