1. See also

2. References

3. Further reading

Other sculptors were jealous of how skilled a carpenter Hidari was, the other carpenters became so angry that they chopped off his right arm. Luckily Hidari was left handed and was able to keep working. Hidari in Japanese means left hand, a name he acquired for being left handed, and only having a left hand. Jingorō was a famous Edo period artist, designer, sculptor, carpenter, and architect. He was an apprentice to a blacksmith and made katana swords. After working with the blacksmith Jingorō felt he deserved to know what temperature the oil was kept at. Against his boss's permission he attempted to test the temperature of the oil by touching it and his boss cut off his right hand. When he realized he could no longer be a blacksmith he became an apprentice for the Chief Architect Hokyo Yoheiji Yusa of the Imperial Court in Kyoto where he studied how to build temples, shrines, and sculptures. he learnt to work with his left hand and became Hidari Jingorou^[2] (Hidari (左) means "left").

Stories about Jingorō are well known in Japan. According to one, he saw a woman of exceptional beauty and created a sculpture of her. Jingorō begins to drink in the company of the sculpture, and it emotionlessly begins to imitate his moves. When a mirror is placed before the sculpture, the woman's spirit comes to life.

See also

• Pygmalion (mythology)

References

Further reading

• Zempei Matsumura, Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shrine and Hidari Jingorō, Nohi Publishing Company, Japan, 1975.

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