A Dated Buddha from Provincial Kii, Carved in 1062
Inside the back of this seated figure, an ink inscription records the year of its making: Kōhei 5, or 1062. The lines naming the patron and the sculptor have faded past reading, yet the date itself survives clearly enough to fix the statue in the middle of the eleventh century. Few provincial Buddhist sculptures of that age can be dated so precisely, and that single legible line is what lifts this Dainichi Nyorai out of the anonymous and into the record of Japanese sculpture.
The image is a Diamond World Dainichi, the Cosmic Buddha of esoteric Buddhism, forming the chiken-in gesture in which the right hand grasps the raised forefinger of the left. It was carved from a single block of hinoki cypress, standing 84.3 centimetres tall with a knee span of 65.2 centimetres. The proportions are broad and settled, the head and torso thick and unhurried, and the carving is shallow throughout, giving the surface a calm, even softness.
Why It Matters
The statue was designated an Important Cultural Property on 25 May 1970. Its significance is twofold. First is the dated inscription, which anchors the work to 1062 and makes it a fixed point against which other undated sculptures of the region can be measured. Second is what the carving reveals about Buddhist art outside the capital. The shallow modelling and stable, generous build are read as marks of provincial workshops in mid-eleventh-century Kii, a competent local response to the styles radiating out from Kyoto rather than a direct product of the capital's elite ateliers.
The figure once served as the main icon of a temple called Shōzen-ji. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs record, that temple later fell into disuse, and ownership of the statue passed to the city of Arida, which holds it today.
Seeing the Statue Today
The Dainichi is associated with Shōzen-ji in the Hatsushima district of Arida, but it is not on casual view. To guard against humidity and insect damage, the figure is kept in a sealed storehouse and brought out only rarely. Local efforts have been moving toward establishing a yearly opening, so a traveller's best course is to contact the city's tourism or cultural division before visiting to confirm any scheduled opening.
Arida sits on the coast of central Wakayama, known for its mandarin oranges and its fishing harbours. For visitors building a route through the prefecture, the statue pairs naturally with the other early Buddhist sculptures of the Arida River valley, several of which share its provincial Heian character.
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Q&A
- How do we know exactly when it was made?
- An ink inscription on the inside back of the statue gives the date Kōhei 5 (1062). The portions naming the patron and sculptor have faded and can no longer be read.
- What kind of Dainichi is this?
- A Diamond World (Kongōkai) Dainichi, identified by the chiken-in hand gesture. It is the cosmic Buddha at the center of Shingon practice.
- Why is it owned by the city rather than a temple?
- It was the main image of Shōzen-ji, which later became defunct. Ownership then passed to the city of Arida, which now cares for the statue.
- Can I see it when I visit?
- Not without arrangement. It is stored in a climate-controlled storehouse and shown only on rare occasions. Contact the Arida city offices in advance to ask about any scheduled opening.
Basic Information
| Name | Wooden Seated Dainichi Nyorai |
|---|---|
| Location | Arida, Wakayama Prefecture (Hatsushima district) |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (designated 25 May 1970) |
| Count | 1 figure |
| Date | Heian period, Kōhei 5 (1062), by inscription |
| Dimensions | Height 84.3 cm; knee span 65.2 cm |
| Material / technique | Wood, single-block construction (hinoki cypress); Diamond World form |
| Owner | City of Arida |
| Access | Kept in a storehouse; shown only on rare occasions. Confirm with the city in advance. |
References
- National Database of Designated Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/201/4931
- City of Arida: Shōzen-ji (Furusato walk)
- https://www.city.arida.lg.jp/kanko/aruku/furusatosanpo/1001450.html
- City of Arida: Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.arida.lg.jp/kurashi/sportsbunka/bunka/1000911/index.html
Last verified: 2026.06.22