The Soul of the Kei School: The Life and Legacy of Unkei Eii In the turbulent transition to the Kamakura period, a transformative energy surged through the heart of Japanese sculpture, driven by a visionary whose name remains synonymous with spiritual vitality. Unkei Eii, born around 1150, did not merely carve wood; he breathed life into the divine. As a central figure of the illustrious Kei school, Unkei orchestrated a profound departure from the delicate, aristocratic aesthetics that had long dominated the Kyoto courts. Where previous eras favored a serene, almost detached elegance, Unkei…