Meditation chair for monk "kyokuroku". Japan, Showa Period (1926-1989). Lacquered wood and metal.

Monk's meditation chair "kyokuroku". Japan, Showa period (1926-1989).
Lacquered wood and metal.
Sizes: 105 x 82 x 43.5 cm.
Exceptional kyokuroku or folding meditation chair for monks. Made of wood, it is lacquered in red with a glossy nashiji finish and decorated with gilt fittings ornamented with various types of vegetal elements, such as chrysanthemum flowers and spiralling vines, as well as a relief design of 'pearl-hunting dragons'. The seat is made of black leather and the footrest is also foldable. The backrest is horseshoe-shaped and the chair's structure is specially designed for cross-legged sitting. Meditation forms an indispensable part of Buddha spirituality throughout the Eastern world and the Buddhist world has various elements that give meaning and form to the experience of meditation. One of these elements is the Kyokuroku, used exclusively by Buddhist monks in temples.