Asura and Maitreya, National Treasures of Japan
Paper craft fans will have special opportunities to create and touch masterpiece 7th to 8th centuries Buddha sculptures which have become national treasures, now rarely put on public display. Nariaki Urushi, a Japanese 3DCG paper craft artist published Buddha Sculpture 3D Paper Craft Puzzle Series. Vol. 1 is Asura having three heads with three faces and six arms. Vol. 2 is Maitreya which might be one of origins of The Thinker by Auguste Rodin.
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Buddha 3D Paper Sculpture Puzzle Series
The book is consist of parts printed on pages and Japanese instructions on how to assemble the sculptures. English instructions are available as a PDF download file. However, without text instructions, the precise photos and marks are clear guides to assembly.
ASURA
Asura book: A4 size 84 pages
Asura model: 1/2 scale H75cmxW50cmxD21cm
About 100 hours to complete
52 USD per book including air freight shipping to Europe and North America
>Buy from this site (Shipping is included)
Ships within 2-3 business days by international air mail
>Buy on amazon US UK DE FR ES IT JP
MAITREYA
Maitreya book: A4 size 84 pages
Maitreya model: 1/2 scale H62cmxW29cmxD35.5cm
About 32-48 hours to complete
52 USD per book including air freight shipping to Europe and North America
>Buy from this site (Shipping is included)
Ships within 2-3 business days by international air mail
>Buy on amazon US UK DE FR ES IT JP
You are able to buy on amazon in the US and Europe, and from this website (the cheapest offer). If you are a wholesaler, please contact from here.
Parts on pages
MAITREYA
Introductions how to assemble
As for English instruction, please download PDF files from here.
How to assemble ASURA
How to assemble MAITREYA
Please click to download above images.
About Buddha Paper Sculpture Creator Naru Urushi
Urushi (born in 1977 in Japan) graduated Tokyo University of the Arts in 2003 and started developing Buddha sculpture 3D paper craft models in 2007. He originally worked in 3D metal, but changed to paper designs since he thought paper craft would be a much easier material for everybody to assemble and share. Urushi created unique Buddha sculpture 3D paper craft puzzles of Asura and Maitreya.
Urushi describes his choice for these creation: “Both Asura (year 734, in Kofuku-temple in Nara) and Maitreya (the 7th century, in Koryu-temple in Kyoto) are national treasures of Japan, so we rarely meet and touch them. However, if they became paper crafts, everybody can touch and feel their passion, rebirth and sense of calm meditation.“
