Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2013

We’ve long admired the evocative way Japanese use the natural knots and gnarls of wood in their art and architecture. “Enku’s Buddhas” shows where this tradition comes from. A Buddhist monk and sculptor said to have carved 120,000 Buddhist statues in his lifetime, Enku (1632-95) made pilgrimages to sacred mountains all over the country to gather materials. This exhibition presents 100 chopped and chiseled Buddha statues from historic Takayama City in Gifu prefecture that evoke the area’s ancient temples and forests. DG

Tokyo National Museum, until Apr 7, ¥900. Open Tue-Sun 9:30am-5pm. 13-9 Ueno Park. Nearest stn: Ueno. www.tnm.jp