East Asia, Japan, Edo to Meiji period, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A wonderful wooden sculpture of Jizo Bosatsu, the bodhisattva of the earth matrix, hand-carved in yosegi zukuri (joined wood-block construction) and adorned in liberal remains of gold pigment and an inlaid glass urna. Called Ksitigarbha ("Earth Womb") in Sanskrit, Jizo is depicted traditionally in the guise of a monk with an open, compassionate expression and devoid to the crown and jewels normally worn by bodhisattvas. He wears a kesa, or patchwork monk's robe, and holds a sacred, wish-fulfilling jewel known as a cintamani in his left hand. His right hand previously held a staff with 6 rings symbolizing the 6 perfections of a bodhisattva. Sitting in lalitasana atop a lotus flower, his bald head is encircled by a large halo with 3 additional cintamani pearls. His interior is hollow and an inscription of Japanese characters on the interior of the base may reveal the sculpture's year of construction or sculptor. Size: 12" W x 22.8" H (30.5 cm x 57.9 cm)

One of the most readily recognizable of the many deities in the Buddhist pantheon and perhaps the most sympathetic, Jizo is invoked for many roles - as protector of travelers, of children, and of women in childbirth. However, he was especially venerated for his intervention on behalf of those suffering in hell, the lowest of the Six Realms of Existence. The cult of Jizo as a savior and an advocate for the sinners in hell became central to Japanese Buddhism in the Kamakura period. Functioning like a priest, he serves as a guide of the dead through the intermediate state and on to birth in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha. Jizo is often translated as 'Womb of the Earth,' where ji means earth, while zo means womb. Zo can also be translated as 'repository of treasure'; thus Jizo is often translated as 'Earth Store' or 'Earth Treasury'.

According to Bonhams London, "Yosegi-zukuri, or the joined wood-block construction, is a sculpting method in which several rectangular blocks of wood are individually selected and carved into shapes. Yosegi-zukuri, together with ichiboku-zukuri (single block construction), are the two main techniques associated with wood sculpture in Japan. There were a several advantages of a sculpture made from multiple blocks of wood. It was much lighter than one carved out of a single block of wood. The technique also helped to minimise the cracking of the wood caused by the outside layer drying faster than the core of the sculpture. In addition, it was faster, as it allowed the individual blocks to be carved simultaneously by several artisans specialising in particular kinds of carving, which in turn led to development of an assembly-line production and a true studio."

Provenance: private Constance McCormick Fearing estate, Montecito, California, USA, acquired before 2004

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#181024

Missing staff. Professionally repaired with break lines visible in areas and loss to hallux toe on proper left foot and tips of fingers on left hand. Some nicks and stable fissures to wood. Nice remaining detail and liberal remains of gold pigment. Figure is not attached to base. Japanese inscription on interior of base.