Yachuji Temple: Bodhisattva in Contemplation

JAPAN, Osaka, Habikino; Hakuho period

According to the inscription on the base of the statue, this Bodhisattva was created in 666 for the recovery of the sick empress. It was listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1921.
The figure and its pedestal were cast together but some accessories were added later. Some of the surface still retains the original gilding. The head is proportionally larger, with the hair tied into a large topknot behind a three-leaf crown. On each side of the crown, a ribbon fastened to the flame ornament hangs down to the waist.
The Bodhisattva sits in the relaxation posture and leans forward in contemplation, with the right ankle crossed upon the left leg; this leg overhangs the seat and rests on a lotus emerging from inverted petals at the throne’s base. The index and middle fingers of the right hand lightly prop the cheek, while the left hand rests on the supported ankle. The artistry of the soft wavy folds of the double-layered skirt and the patterned drapery shows a greater degree of elaboration than normal for the period.