Maitreya Bodhisattva

Wooden, lacquered, jeweled eyes; early Muromachi period, 15th century. Some speculate that this could be a "Crowned Shakyamuni Buddha" (also known as Kegon's Shakyamuni). The statue is thought to be the work of an In-school sculptor. It sits in a lotus position, forming the cosmic mudra, adorned with a crown and armlets. The statue is similar to the Maitreya in Daigo-ji's Sanbō-in but is thought to have originally been the principal image of another temple. Its provenance is unknown.