Toji Temple Founder’s Hall: Acala

JAPAN, Kyoto; Heian period

The statue was listed as a National Treasure in 1955. Since the statue is usually not opened for public display, it has been well preserved and retains its original colors. The torso of the statue is sculpted from a piece of hollowed cypress wood, while the shoulders, arms, and feet were attached later and coated with dry lacquer. The golden lotus crowning the head was a later addition.
Acala is depicted with an angry expression and seems to be biting his lower lip. A distinguishing feature is the braided hair that hangs down one side of the stole-draped torso. The figure’s few pieces of jewelry are gilded. Acala sits in half lotus position with a rope snare in his left hand and a sword with a three-pronged vajra hilt in the other hand. Behind the figure are an overlapping circular nimbus and aureole decorated with floral patterns about the outer rim. A canopy with painted images of apsaras on its underside shields the statue.