Abstract
Shochojuin, constructed in 1185, is the first temple that Minamoto-no Yoritomo built in Kamakura and that had been made much of by the shogunate throughout the Kamakura period. The statue to which the temple is dedicated is a work of Seicho. He belonged to the school called Nara-Busshi but was little known when he was commitioned by Yoritomo to carve the statue. Seicho's appointment to the work brought forth a close relationship between the shogunate and the Nara Busshi after that and it had a great influence on the cultural trends in the Kamakura period. The importance of Yoritomo's selection of Seicho as the principal carver, however, has not been fully recognized until today. This article deals with how and why Seicho was appointed by Yoritomo, first by analyzing several reasons that have been raised by some researchers before. Though those reasons have been repeatedly referred to, they are proved week in their grounds for the arguments. So, by analyzing Yoritomo's consistent motives for doing things and by newly rereading some of his letters, the article presents a more persuasive and positive reason for Yoritomo's decision: namely, Seicho was the legitimate son of Jocho, the authorized successor of Jocho's position. Then, it follows that from a wider view of the society Yoritomo's personal attitude for the decision is proved to share the same ideal with the political system of the age. Finally, the article mentions briefly about a reason why Hojo Tokimasa appointed Unkei as the principal carver for the new construction of Ganjojuin.
