Saidaiji Temple Main Hall: Sakyamuni Buddha

JAPAN, Nara; Kamakura period

The statue was commissioned by the monk Eizon and his devotees and required the efforts of nine sculptors led by the monk Zenkei. The figure was made in the likeness of the Udayana Buddha at Seiryoji Temple. It was listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1902.
The Buddha stands with bare feet slightly apart on a four-tier lotus pedestal. The figure’s right hand is in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra and the left hand in varada (wish-granting) mudra. The monastic robe covers both shoulders with folds in a downward rippling effect that is characteristic of the Udayana style. The hair has been slightly tinted and the protruding ridges of the clothes are emphasized by a light brushing of gold.
The Buddha’s aureole is web-like and the nimbus features an openwork lotus and a solid foliate rim. Enclosing these elements is a superb openwork mandorla covered in a foliated design with swirling arcs that represent shining light. Eleven seated Buddhas encircle the central figure.