Todaiji Temple Lotus Hall: Vajrapani

JAPAN, Nara; Nara period

This statue is hidden in a Buddha niche behind the main figure of Amoghapasa Avalokitesvara in Todaiji Temple’s Lotus Hall. It is the oldest secretly preserved sculpture in the temple. Master Roben, the founding patriarch, is said to have personally prayed to the statue, so the niche doors are opened each year on the anniversary of his death. The sculpture was listed as a National Treasure in 1951.
The original paint on the statue has been well preserved. The red interior of the mouth contrasts with the pale face. The armor is detailed with gold while the surrounding edges are adorned with vine-like patterns in black. The garment beneath is painted in various colors. This use of colors and decorative floral patterns was a hallmark of High Tang period (712–756) art, which may have served as a reference for this sculpture.
The right hand brandishes a vajra while the left fist is so tightly clenched that the veins stand out. The body twists in preparation for the throw. The eyes stare, the nostrils are flared, and the mouth is spread in a roar. The flying sleeves and serpentine stole accentuate the sense of energy and dynamism. The mature craft of the statue is considered the most realistic among Nara period (710–794) works, and the earliest single Vajrapani sculpture.