Toshodaiji Temple Golden Hall: Brahma and Sakra

JAPAN, Nara; Nara period

The life-sized statues of Brahma and Sakra stand on either side of Vairocana Buddha in Toshodaiji Temple’s Golden Hall. The heads and most of the bodies are carved from whole pieces of cypress wood, which were then partially coated in sawdust paint and polished. It is assumed that the inverted lotus pedestals were created at the same time, in the second half of the 8th century. This pair of statues was listed as a National Treasure in 1953.
The hair of both figures is tied into a topknot and their expression is solemn. They stand on hexagonal pedestals and are wearing robes beneath long-sleeved surcoats with hems that hide their feet. They are depicted with wide shoulders, solid chests, and thick waists. The folds of Brahma’s cuffs appear scroll-shaped, a style that was popular at the earlier stages of the Heian period (794–1185).