Standing bodhisattva

Bodhisattvas are beings that postpone their entry into nirvana to remain in this world and help human beings attain salvation. For many years this statue was identified as Arya Avalokiteshvara, a bodhisattva known in Japan as Sho Kannon. Japanese statues of this deity typically wear a small image of Amitabha in the crown, but this statue lacks that feature; also, its raised right and lowered left hands reverse the usual gestures associated with Sho Kannon. Another possibility, still to be confirmed, is that this statue represents Gakko (Sanskrit: Candra), the “moonlight” bodhisattva, who is paired as a flanking figure with Nikko (Sanskrit: Surya), the “sunlight” bodhisattva.

Like the seated Amitabha on the platform in the center of this gallery, this statue is made from several blocks of wood, prepared individually, hollowed out, and then assembled to form a full sculpture. The surface of the assembled form was then smoothed and finished with black lacquer.