Tankei facts for kids

A statue of the Thousand-armed Kannon made by Tankei in the Sanjusangen-dō temple.

Tankei (born in 1173, died June 13, 1256) was a famous Japanese artist who made sculptures. He was part of a group of sculptors called the Kei school, which was very active during the Kamakura period in Japan. Tankei was the oldest son and a student of another master sculptor named Unkei. Tankei also taught his nephew, Kōen, who later worked with him and took over as the head of the Kei school after Tankei passed away in 1256.

Amazing Sculptures by Tankei

Tankei created many important and beautiful sculptures. Here are some of his most famous works:

• Thousand-Armed Kannon: One of his most well-known sculptures is the statue of Sahasrabhuja-arya-avalokiteśvara, also known as the Thousand-armed Kannon. This impressive statue is located in a temple called Sanjusangen-dō in Kyoto.
• Niō Guardian Statue: Tankei also helped create the large statue of Ugyō. This is one of the two Niō guardian figures that stand at the Nandaimon gate, which is the main entrance to the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara. He worked on this with another sculptor named Jōkaku and 12 assistant sculptors.

See also

In Spanish: Tankei para niños