Takamura Kōun

In this Japanese name, the surname is Takamura.

Takamura Kōun (高村 光雲; March 8, 1852 – October 10, 1934) was a Japanese sculptor who exerted himself for the modernization of wood carving and a professor of Tokyo School of Fine Arts, who dedicated himself to the education of the future generations.^[1]

Takamura Kōun in May 1928

Life and career

Born in Tokyo^[1] as Nakajima Kōzō,^[2] he created the bronze statue of Saigō Takamori, completed in 1898, which stands in Ueno Park in Tokyo.^[3] He is also the author of the statue of Kusunoki Masahige which stands in front of the Tokyo Imperial Palace.^[4]

He studied under Takmura Tōun (高村東雲), a sculptor of Buddhist statues, whose elder sister became Kōun's adoptive parent.^[1] He was the father of the poet and sculptor Kōtarō Takamura.^[5]

One of his representative works is "Aged Monkey" (Rōen).^[6]