Recommendations for illustrated Japanese Buddhist sculpture volumes?

[Alexander Zapryagaev (萌覺・Miǒgacu)]

This is a thing I wonder:

Is there any publication, in any language, that you would recommend that covers the masterpieces of Japanese Buddhist sculpture and has ample high-quality images thereof? I am frustrated by the fact that, between the museums' and temples' vigorous enforcement of no-photos rule and the primary treasures oftentimes being kept as hidden images to be revealed olny for short spans of time, frequently the only available image of a National Treasure or Important Cultural Property is literally a black-and-white photo taken by a Western researcher in the 19th century.

Given that, I would like to see a volume or series comprehensive enough to include high-quality, full-colour images of said National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, assembled conveniently in one place and intelligently described. The image quality probably takes priority, because a good exposition of Buddhist statuary can be found in many places, but proper imagery is hard to find.

I have seen a recommendation of Great Age of Japanese Buddhist Sculpture, A.D.600-1300, by Nishikawa Kyotaro and Emily J. Sano, but it covers only the art that was present at a particular exhibition, at Kimbell Art Museum, Sept. 8-Oct. 31, 1982 and at Japan House Gallery, Nov. 23, 1982-Jan. 16, 1983, and thus is by definition not comprehensive. Is there anything, in English, Japanese, or any other language imaginable?

Best wishes,

Alexander Zapryagaev,

[Cynthea Bogel]

Dear Alexander,

No need to be frustrated any longer on this account.

There are many such publications.

You might begin with the multi-volume series entitled 日本美術全集 by different publishers, most recently  小学館 (2014–16) and  previously 講談社, 学研, and 集英社 and again 小学館. They are arranged chronologically and thematically (site, genre, etc.).  The various series can be found in many libraries and the recent 小学館 and 講談社 series have the best photographs. All of the recent ones, at least, have English sections with full captions. There’s also an old large format magazine series, entitled 国宝published by Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞) arranged a geographically. published in 1997-98, it ran for about 110 issues. (I happen to be the English caption translator for that series.)  Single issues are easily found in used bookstores in Japan (as are single volumes and sets in the book series noted above) but full series in libraries are few since it was published serially. 

There are also many excellent museum catalogs, some of which have Kokuhō in their titles or the names of the best known sculptures or temples or monks. Nearly all of these also have sections with English captions or more information in English.

Sincerely, 

Cynthea

Cynthea J. Bogel

On Nov 6, 2025, at 12:40 AM, Alexander Zapryagaev [rudet...@gmail.com](mailto:rudet...@gmail.com) wrote:



Alexander Zapryagaev,

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[Lisa Kochinski]

Dear Alexander,

Adding to the excellent suggestions from Cynthea Bogel, may I draw your attention to the encyclopedic Kokuhō jiten 国宝事典 published by Benrido 便利堂 in Kyoto? 

https://www.kyotobenrido.com/view/item/000000001778?srsltid=AfmBOop87jYaloRAc35QTzQ8aVh782d11AhkBboDMXkOmB1EzuKq-PqT

I'm not sure if the images in Kokuhō jiten will meet the "ample high quality images" criteria you mentioned, but it is a useful starting point for Japan's national treasures.

With best wishes,

Lisa 

Lisa Kochinski, PhD

Visiting Scholar

University of Southern California

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[Kristina Troost]

I know that there is a multi-volume survey of the classic works of Japanese art that focuses on national treasures and has good photos, but I am no longer working in a library.  Indeed if you have access to or know an art librarian, that might be your best bet.

Kris Troost

Retired Japanese Studies librarian

I have not been successful at finding the title I have in mind, but here is one that you might check in a library or thru ILL and see if it works:

THE HEIBONSHA SURVEY OF JAPANESE ART. [The Complete 31 Volume Set,... by HEIBONSHA SURVEY OF…

Here is another that looks promising: 

New Edition: Masterpieces of Japanese Art, Complete 11-Volume Set, Shogakukan Gallery

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Kristina Troost
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