The Bodhisattvas on Clouds of the Phoenix Hall
The Wooden Statues of Bodhisattvas on Clouds (in the Phoenix Hall) (木造雲中供養菩薩像（所在鳳凰堂）) are a group of 52 bodhisattva figures made in 1053 by the workshop of the sculptor Jocho for the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin in Uji Renge, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, and they were designated a National Treasure on June 22, 1955. They had first been protected under earlier law in 1904.
According to Byodoin, the figures hang on the small wall panels above the tie beams inside the central hall, surrounding the principal Amida Buddha in a U-shape on the north and south sides. Half hang on each side, and each figure is numbered from 1 to 26 north and south.
Why They Are a National Treasure
Byodoin explains that every figure carries a halo and rides a flying cloud in a different pose. Five are monks and the rest are bodhisattvas; some play musical instruments, some dance, some hold ritual objects and some join their palms in prayer. Together they turn the hall into a vision of the Pure Land, with Amida descending to welcome the faithful.
Writing about one figure from the same group, now owned by the national government, the Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the statues were originally painted with cut-gold decoration, and praises their light, graceful forms, carved almost in relief yet hollowed in places to create depth, as evidence of the skill of Jocho's workshop. Made in the same workshop and year as the principal Amida, they preserve a complete 11th-century interior programme.
What to Look For
Byodoin highlights several figures. North 25 cradles a lotus pedestal in its left hand with its right; carved from the same block as the body, it is the only figure to keep its original attribute. South 20 grips its scarf in its right hand and lifts its left foot as if keeping time; an ink inscription on its back reads Mangetsu, so it is thought to represent the Full Moon Bodhisattva. South 21 sits facing forward on a cloud, playing the sho mouth organ.
The monk figure South 12 still has cut-gold diamond patterns at the shoulder of its robe, a hint of the original splendour. Little of the paint survives today, but North 26, a restored replica, shows how vivid the colours once were, according to the temple.
Seeing the Bodhisattvas
Twenty-six of the 52 figures are kept and displayed in the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan, according to the temple. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:45 p.m.), and admission to the garden and museum is ¥700 for adults, ¥400 for junior and senior high school students and ¥300 for elementary school children. The figures still in the Phoenix Hall can be seen on the hall's interior tour, which asks a ¥300 offering and runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. on a first-come basis.
Byodoin reports that from October 16, 2026, each interior tour will take 35 people instead of 50, and waits are expected to be longer in busy seasons. Interior tours may be suspended for services and events. Byodoin has no dedicated parking; use nearby car parks. The address is 116 Uji Renge, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture (0774-21-2861).
Q&A
- How many Bodhisattvas on Clouds are there?
- Fifty-two. According to Byodoin, 26 of them are kept and displayed in the Hoshokan museum.
- When were the Bodhisattvas on Clouds made?
- In 1053, by the workshop of Jocho, who also made the principal Amida Buddha.
- When were they designated a National Treasure?
- On June 22, 1955.
- What do the Bodhisattvas on Clouds look like?
- They ride on clouds, playing instruments, dancing, holding objects or praying; five are monks and the rest bodhisattvas.
- Where can I see the Bodhisattvas on Clouds?
- Twenty-six are in the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan; the rest are seen on the Phoenix Hall interior tour, first-come, limited to 35 people per tour from October 16, 2026.
Basic Information
| Name | Wooden Statues of Bodhisattvas on Clouds (in the Phoenix Hall) (木造雲中供養菩薩像（所在鳳凰堂）) |
|---|---|
| Location | 116 Uji Renge, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture (Byodoin) |
| Designation | National Treasure (Fine Arts and Crafts: Sculpture) |
| Year Designated | National Treasure 1955/6/22 (Showa 30); earlier designation 1904/2/18 (Meiji 37) |
| Quantity | 52 statues |
| Dimensions | Not recorded |
| Owner | Byodoin |
| Public Access | 26 shown in the Hoshokan museum; others seen on the Phoenix Hall interior tour |
References
- 木造雲中供養菩薩像（所在鳳凰堂） (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/201/259
- 木造雲中供養菩薩像, the figure owned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/201/00011830
- Sculpture and crafts (Byodoin official site)
- https://www.byodoin.or.jp/learn/sculpture/
- Hoshokan Museum (Byodoin official site)
- https://www.byodoin.or.jp/museum/
- Visitor information (Byodoin official site)
- https://www.byodoin.or.jp/guide/
- Change to Phoenix Hall interior visit capacity from October 16, 2026 (Byodoin official site)
- https://www.byodoin.or.jp/news/cat23/20261016/
Last verified: 2026.10.04