Buddha

This wooden statue was made in the 7th century during the late Asuka period, not long after Buddhist statues first arrived on Japan's shores. It was originally passed down at Horyuji Temple in Nara. Only a few Buddhist statues still remain from that time. Those made of wood are particularly valuable. This statue is made from the aromatic wood of the camphor tree in accordance with teachings from India, which stated Buddhist statues should be made from fragrant wood. The child-like face contains a hint of sadness. From another angle, though, this enigmatic statue also appears to be an old man. Let's look at the statue from the side. The body is bent like an arrowhead, with the chest pulled in and the stomach pushed out. This is a characteristic pose of Buddhist statues from this era.

The top of the head was once adorned with a large number of spiral curls but most have been lost with the passing of time. The left hand is held up with the palm facing out in a gesture that signals there is no need to be afraid. The right hand is held lower and is extended toward the viewer. This symbolizes the granting of wishes. This buddha has a child-like face and a gently curved S-shaped posture, both stylistic features of the Asuka period (593–710). While most buddhas from this period are gilt bronze, this one is carved from camphor wood. This unusual choice likely relates to the worship of camphor trees, which were thought to house sacred spirits.

— Museum description: Tokyo National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.