- Title
- Head of a Buddha
- Date Made
- first half 11th century (Heian period, 794-1185)
- Period
- Heian period (794-1185)
- Medium
- Wood, lacquer, gilt, and crystal
- Dimensions
- 22 x 12 1/2 x 11 in. (55.88 x 31.75 x 27.94 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.2011.22
- Collecting Area
- Japanese Art
- Curatorial Notes
This large head was originally part of an eight-foot-tall seated Buddha, probably Amida, ruler of the Western Pure Land (paradise in the Pure Land sect of Buddhism). Made of cypress wood, it was lacquered in black and covered with gold leaf, traces of which remain. It bears the requisite characteristics of a Buddha: the crystal third eye emitting infinite light, the tight curls of hair, and the elongated ears. The head of a Buddhist statue is by far its most important element: the power, meaning, and compassion of the Buddha are expressed through its face. The head’s construction is of an ancient type seen in sculpture of the twelfth century or before, called wari-hagi-zukuri (splitting, carving out, and rejoining). In this technique, the head is first carved from a single large block of wood, then split into halves along a vertical line behind the ears, creating a front and back half. Both are then hollowed out using a chisel, and the two halves rejoined. This technique produces a sculpture that is lighter and far less likely to crack due to dryness.
In three Japanese temples near Kyoto, there are three heads of similar size dating to the eleventh century. All three are registered as National Treasures by the government of Japan. In its quality and condition, LACMA’s head is a remarkable example of Heian-period Japanese sculpture from 1000 to 1050, embodying both power and compassion.
