Shibamata Taishakuten, Temple of wood sculptures

Shibamata 柴又 Taishakuten 帝釈天 Temple (Kyoeizan Daikyoji Temple)

This temple, commonly called Taishakuten 帝釈天 but it is formally known as Daikyoji Temple 題経寺, has been treasured by people for nearly 400 years.
It is also known as the temple of wood sculptures.
The upper parts of the outer panels were carved with the twelve signs of the Oriental zodiac and celestial beings as well, the lower parts with many cranes. And the bottom ones were made up of the flowers, birds and turtles. Takeshi Ihachi Ⅳ 四代目武志伊八 or Nobuaki 信明, his real name was Takaishi Senzo 高石仙蔵, had made up them. The great master of sculptor Ihachi 伊八 had been widely acknowledged as for "Ihachi of the waves 波の伊八,", whose name had been taken over by excellent pupils from generation to generation. Ihachi Ⅳ or Takaishi Senzo was said to have left the sculptures on most of the buildings, and so some people call Shibamata Taishakuten, especially Teishakudo 帝釈堂, the "Museum of Nobuaki IV's Techniques".     …　excerpting from the website of the Kawasenke 川千家.