Hand Carved Buddha with Lotus Nimbus

By the time of the Meiji restoration period when this large figure of Buddha was created, Buddhism was well integrated into Japanese society. This limestone sculpture made around 1900 draws upon centuries of iconographical tradition, depicting Buddha on a lotus, a symbol of purity and detachment from worldly desires. With legs crossed and his hands in a meditative gesture known as a mudra, the Buddha is depicted in a transcendental state of meditation demonstrated by his halo and serene countenance.