Kōkei

Together with his father, Kōkei, and his brother Unkei, he made statues for the temples of Kōfuku and Tōdai in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan. Kaikei’s style, while sharing the direct and realistic manner typical of the time, was noted for its gentleness and grace in contrast to…

…the Kei family, led by Kōkei and his son Unkei. Inspired both by the exquisite idealism of the Nara period works and by the fashion for realism found in Chinese Song dynasty sculpture, the best of Kamakura period sculpture conveyed intense corporeal presence. The style is frequently referred to as…