Jizō, Bodhisattva of the Earth Store (Kshitigarbha) 1050 - 1400

This is the wooden sculpture, Jizō, Bodhisattva of the Earth Store, made by Kaikei in the early thirteenth century. Notice how the verticality of the staff is echoed by the fall of the drapery in long, almost gothic lines. These verticals are broken by the pattern of the robes, which pulls the eye towards the sculpture’s centre. The face and the feet are given equal weight in the composition. A network of lines and textures pull the figure together with the smooth face acting as a focal point. Japanese Buddhist sculpture utilises a canon of proportions and iconographic codes to create a symbolic language. Kaikei adhered to these strict guidelines while subtly manipulating the form to imbue his sculptures with an elegant, yet human, touch. These iconographic codes allow the viewer to perceive and interpret Jizō, not just as an aesthetic object, but as a bearer of spiritual meaning and cultural memory.