A Heavenly General (One of the Junishinsho)

Abstract

The image was constructed from many pieces of thinly carved wood joined together with pins and then covered with hemp cloth, lacquer paste, and pigments. The eyes are pieces of crystal that were painted from behind. All this work was done in the studio of a sculptor of Buddhist images, probably in Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan.This robust sculpture comes from a set of Twelve Divine Generals (Junishinsho), protectors of the Healing Buddha (Yakushi Nyorai). The generals flanked Yakushi in the hall of a Japanese Buddhist temple.; Full View