Hidekuni (秀国) was born on March 10, 1825 and he died on September 27, 1891. He was the son of Hôki Kokumai. As a child, he was called Nakagawa Daizô (中川代蔵). He became the assistant carver to the Nakagawa (中川) school. Later he became the adopted son-in-law of Kawarabayashi Hideoki (川原林秀興) and he succeeded him to become the second master. He worked in Kyôto.
The Kinkô Meikan also refers to him as being related to the Ôtsuki (大月) school, but I am not sure of the exact connection. His carving technique had a more delicate feeling than that of his teacher, Hideoki (秀興).
Hidekuni’s (秀国) family names were first Nakagawa (中川) and later Kawarabayashi (川原林). His art names were Daizô (代蔵), Kinryûsai (金龍斎), Kinryûsha (金龍舎), and Tenkôdô (天光堂).
