Japanese Stone Standing Buddha

A stone standing Buddha from Japan. Set against a pointed aureole, it follows the form of the wayside Buddha — carved to bless travelers along the road.

Moss and weathering have mottled the whole surface, leaving it somewhere between figure and rock. Beside Korean stones it does not look like a stranger.

Related Objects in Museum Collections

A few related objects found on Korea’s e-Museum by searching for “석조여래입상”. Comparing their forms is a quiet pleasure.