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Ancient Nara

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Heijyo-kyo in Nara was the capital city maintaining an active interchange with China and the Korean peninsula, built in 710 and modeled after the Changan City in China in the Tang period. A large number of highly cultural, artistic architecture and artifacts are still in existence providing a good description of the conditions at that time the basic country was established. At this time, wooden architecture of that period is hardly exists on the Chinese continent that greatly influenced Japan. From the standpoint of the world history, the inheritance value of Nara has been recognized as highly significant, against a background of wood culture that is a unique feature of Japan.
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Statuses of Buddha

　Japanese statues of Buddha are principally made of wood and it is said that wooden statues occupy 90% of national treasures and important cultural properties.

　After the Heian period (794 - 1185), the methods were introduced such as Ichiboku-zukuri, which the main part of a statue is sculpted out of a single tree, or Yosegi-zukuri, which parts of a statue are combined from multiple wooden materials. Such methods enabled production of Buddha statues with voluminous body form making use of wood-sculpting methods or the characteristics of wood grain to show creases and folds in clothing. These methods can be said to be the characteristics only unique to Japan where the people have felt the spiritual vitality dwelling inside woods and high quality timber were available all through the ages.

　Tetsuo Yamaori, the supervisor editor of this document, stated that the Buddha expression with downward-looking eyes coming from the incomplete eyelid opening overlaps the faith and aesthetic feeling of the Japanese people and is conducive to the beauty of art figures. He suggests that the multiple visual lines look at the past, present and future with an expression showing Buddha like humans who gradually pass from the living world to the dead world.

　After the arrival of Buddhism in the middle of 6th century, although statues of Buddha in Japan were imitative under the influence of China and the Korean peninsula, Japanese elements were incorporated in many areas. These statues finally brought dramatic improvements to the uniquely advanced Japanese Buddhist art.

　Horyu-ji Kondo Shakasanzon-zo in the Asuka period (End of 6th - 7th century) is known to be a full-scale Japanese-styled statue, although at the time it was still under the influence of continental culture. In addition, Horyu-ji Kannon Bosatsu (Kudara-kannon-zo), a standing statue having an enigmatic smile and well-proportioned beauty, as well as Kofuku-ji Butto with a young and dignified expression are typical works of the period.Sophisticated natural figures appeared in the Nara period (710 - 784). The representative arts are Yakushi-ji Kondo Yakushisanzon-zo, a statue having an overwhelming body mass and the Kofuku-ji Ashura-zo statue with a fine delicate expression. In this period, Todai-ji Rushana-butsu, a seated statue (the Great Buddha) and the largest Buddha statue in the world at 15 m high made from gold and bronze, was also built as a part of Buddhist politic policy of peace in the nation.

　In Heian period (794 - 1185), esoteric Buddhism was carried down by Kukai and Saicho monks. Various Myo-oh statues ※Note1) appeared having anger on their faces. Consequently, Amidanyorai wooden statues sculpted in so-called Wayo style showed up nationwide having round faces and gentle expressions which had never appeared in earlier statues, these were against a background of life and death in the Jyodo faith that is unique to Japan.
※Note 1) An emissary of Nyorai Buddha. Examples are Fudo-myo-oh, Aizome-myo-oh or Kujyaku myo-oh.

■Yakushi-ji Kondo Yakushisanzon-zo statue
【Nara period (Early 8th century)】
Yakushi-nyorai, the Buddha to cure illnesses, stands accompanied by Nikko-bosatsu and Gakko-bosatsu. An inner vital power runs over the roundness of the body with a gentle expression and natural posture. This natural style from Tang culture in China was created extremely well. The statue is a typical golden bronzed Buddha of the Nara period.


■Horyuji Kondo Shakasanzon-zo
【623 in the Asuka period】
Shaka-nyorai shows the Buddha appearance after he attained enlightenment, and stands accompanied by 2 side statues. It is representative work by Toribusshi who was the first artist to sculpt a full-scale statue of Buddha in Japan. The features are the eyes described as almond shape and the expression with classic smiling called an archaic smile. Techniques can be recognized in many areas that provide a three-dimensional sense and perspective that focuses to be viewed from the front.
■Kofukuji Ashura-zo statue
【734 in the Nara period】
This Buddha was originally the God of ancient India and one of the eight Buddhas who became guardian gods after taking refuge in Buddhism. This first full-size Buddhist sculpture in Japan with a unique mysterious figure was instantaneously influenced from esoteric Buddhism that was actively pursued in the second half of 7th century in China. The innocent and delicate expression like a young boy is very impressive.


■Horyuji Kannon Bosatsu standing statue
【Asuka period (Mid 7th century)】
This statue is familiar with a name called Kudara-kannon. The feature of the statue is a slender and a well-proportioned beauty. The real expression can be recognized in the arms and twisted waist. It has achieved recognition as a crowning work in ancient wooden sculpture. Kannon means a Buddha who broadly provides mercy.