Regarding the Restoration of the Wooden Seated Jizo Bodhisattva Statue in 2022
Tap on the photo to see appearance before restoration.
In 2022, the wooden seated Jizo Bodhisattva statue at Jochiji Temple underwent restoration at the Nara Institute of Fine Arts.
The central crack on the face, which had been present since the Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and had been revealed over time due to the initial post-earthquake repairs, has been beautifully restored once again.
Various damaged areas, including the body and the pedestal, have also been repaired, and the statue has returned to Kamakura in an even more magnificent state.
Wooden Seated Jizo Bodhisattva Statue
(Important Cultural Property / Wooden, painted / Height: 66.6cm)
Originally enshrined as the main deity in the Jizo Hall outside the temple gate, the statue is seated with a staff in the right hand and a precious gem in the left hand.
The way it is seated is somewhat unique, known as "kekka-fuza," a posture used during Zen meditation, with both legs concealed by the garment. (Many statues in Kamakura have a different posture, with the right foot forward or the garment's hem hanging long over the pedestal.)
The seated Jizo Bodhisattva statue created by the renowned Kamakura-era sculptor Unkei, enshrined at Rokuharamitsuji Temple in Kyoto, also adopts the "kekka-fuza" posture, concealing both legs with the garment. It is possible that Jochiji Temple's Jizo Bodhisattva statue was influenced by Unkei's work.
You can view the wooden seated Jizo Bodhisattva statue at Jochiji Temple in the Kamakura National Treasure Museum. We welcome you to visit and appreciate its beauty.
