Seated Buddha (Halo)

1100s

Seated Buddha (Halo), 1100s. Japan, Heian period (794–1185). Gilded wood; average: 101.6 x 68.6 x 1.3 cm (40 x 27 x 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Takako Setsu and her husband, Iwao, in memory of her father-in-law, Inosuke Setsu, and his long friendship with Sherman E. Lee 1973.85.b Composed of a number of hollowed-out pieces of wood that were then covered with lacquer and gilding, this sculpture served as an image of worship in one of the small temples surrounding Kōfukuji, a major Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. Like many Buddhas, this figure has its right hand positioned in a gesture meaning "fear not." The left hand is a replacement, so its original gesture, a clue to this Buddha's identity, is unknown. However, as the left foot is exposed over the garment, in lotus position, it may have been created as a Medicine Master Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai in Japanese, or the Buddha of our era, Shakyamuni. This halo may not have originally belonged to this sculpture.