Kōen

Kōen (Japanese: 康円; c. 12071285) was a Japanese Buddhist sculptor (busshi) of the Kei school in Nara during the Kamakura period. A grandson of the sculptor Unkei, and apprenticed by his uncle Tankei, he carried on the Kei school during the late Kamakura period, which is known for adding realism to Japanese Buddhist sculpture, which have reflected and influenced later periods of Buddhist art.

With the lineage of sculptors starting with Jōchō, Kakujo, and Raijo, it was Kōkei who made the Keiha school prominent, followed by that of the sculptor Unkei and Kaikei. Unkei had six sons: Tankei, Kōun, Kōben, Kōshō, Unga, Unjo, who subsequently ran the studio.

In 1251, he acquired the titles of shō busshi and hōgen. When his uncle, Tankei, died in 1256, Kōen became head of the Kei school, acquiring the title of dai busshi. Fudo-Myo and his Eight Attendants, Kannon-ji, Tokyo (1272) Monju Bosatsu and Four Attendants, formerly Kōfuku-ji, Nakamura Collection,Tokyo (1273) '' Aizen Myoo, Jingo-ji (1275)