Doroashi Bisyamonten(極小仏 泥足毘沙門天)

Bishamonten — Doroashi Bishamonten is a finely carved miniature figure from the Gokusho Butsu series, modeled after the “Bishamonten with Muddy Feet” associated with the warlord Uesugi Kenshin and the Bishamondo shrine at Kasugayama Castle (present-day Niigata).

Despite its compact scale, the piece is carefully balanced and crisply detailed, with gold-leaf finishing supervised by Buddhist statue coloring master Chihiro Takamura and applied by the Isumu studio.

About this piece

This is a small wooden statue carved from tsuge (boxwood), a dense, fine-grained material chosen for precise detailing at approximately 10 cm scale. The form follows a historical reference tied to Uesugi Kenshin’s private worship space (Bishamonmaru) and the Bishamondo shrine he established to enshrine images of Bishamonten; the “Doroashi” name comes from a tradition in which muddy footprints were said to have led to the Bishamonten image in the shrine. The series focuses on faithfully sculpting the most critical elements—especially the face and overall balance—while keeping the proportions true to the original model. The gold-leaf coloration was produced under the supervision of Chihiro Takamura, with finishing carried out by the Isumu studio.

Cultural note

In Japan, Bishamonten (Tamonten) is widely regarded as a protective figure and one of the Shitennō (Four Heavenly Kings) in Buddhist tradition, and images of him are treated as devotional icons rather than simple decoration. Many people approach such statues with a calm, sincere intention—placing them in a clean, settled spot, keeping the area tidy, and handling the figure with both hands when moving it. It is also common to avoid placing sacred images directly on the floor or in disorderly spaces, and to treat the statue as something to be respected even in a non-temple setting.

Details

• Size: 110(H) × 55(W) × 37(D) mm; 31 g
• Material: Tsuge (boxwood) with gold-leaf finishing
• Origin: Made in China

Placement & care

• Place on a stable shelf or small stand in a clean, quiet area where it won’t be easily knocked over.
• Avoid direct sunlight, high humidity, and rapid temperature changes to help preserve the wood and surface finish.
• When moving the statue, lift it with both hands and avoid touching delicate edges or gilded areas as much as possible.
• Dust gently with a soft, dry brush or cloth; avoid water, alcohol, or cleaning sprays on the surface.

Shipping timeline

• Ships within 2–3 business days.